Patent Grant
12068532
The present invention relates to an antenna device for vehicle that is attached to a roof of a vehicle.
An antenna device for vehicle that is attached to a roof of a vehicle such as an automobile has been known, the antenna device for vehicle accommodating an antenna element in a streamlined case in consideration of fluid resistance. In general, the antenna device for vehicle is mounted on a center in a rear portion of the roof and may be referred to as “shark fin antenna”, “dolphin antenna”, or the like because of the figure of the vehicle with the antenna device for vehicle mounted and the appearance of the antenna device for vehicle.
For example, Patent Literature 1 specifically discloses an antenna device for vehicle in which an antenna case is put on a resin base and a space for accommodating a metal base functioning as a ground plate, an antenna element, and so forth is thereby defined. Patent Literature 1 describes a structure which is provided with a conductor plate having a plate spring portion between the metal base and a roof and thereby prevents a decrease in antenna gain due to unnecessary resonance. That is, in a configuration of Patent Literature 1, a capacitance is increased by the conductor plate provided between the metal base and the roof, its resonance frequency is shifted to a lower side than a communication frequency band of the antenna element, and a decrease in antenna gain may thereby be prevented.
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2016-32166
In patent Literature 1, waterproofing is conducted for a gap between a resin base and a roof by a pad, a sealing member, or the like, and reaching of rainwater and so forth to a portion around a conductor plate is prevented as much as possible. However, the shape of the roof as a portion to which an antenna device for vehicle is mounted is not flat. Specifically, the roof has a mildly curved surface, the manner of the curve is different depending on the kind of vehicle or the like on which the antenna device for vehicle is mounted. Thus, it is anticipated that a case will occur where perfect waterproofness may not be secured even by the pad or the sealing member. In this case, corrosion may occur to the conductor plate.
A drastic measure against such corrosion of the conductor plate is omission of the conductor plate. Then, a function for adjusting a resonance frequency of unnecessary resonance so as to be out of communication frequencies, which is given by the conductor plate, has to be ensured by another method.
For example, it is possible to prepare plural kinds of metal bases with different resonance frequencies of the unnecessary resonance and to exchange the metal bases in accordance with the mounting condition. However, the metal base is a precision die-cast product of aluminum or the like. Thus, changes in design, of course, and maintaining multiple kinds take manufacturing cost and management cost compared to a case of maintaining few kinds.
Further, it may be considered that one kind of metal base works adequately if a long side dimension of the metal base is made longer and the resonance frequency of the unnecessary resonance is thereby sufficiently separated from a lower limit of a communication frequency band with a relatively high safety factor. However, this may not be considered as a really preferable solution in terms of costs for the antenna device for vehicle, size reduction of the antenna device for vehicle, appearance of the antenna device for vehicle when mounted on the vehicle, and so forth.
In addition, because the shape of the roof is actually not flat as described above and the manner of the curve is not uniform, the capacitance occurring between the metal base and the roof (ground capacitance) is not determined. Thus, even if the metal base is designed very well, a case may occur where designed performance may not sufficiently be provided depending on the kind of vehicle or the like on which the metal base is mounted.
A challenge for the present invention is to provide a technique for realizing an antenna device for vehicle that prevents a decrease in antenna gain due to unnecessary resonance by a method other than providing a conductor plate between a metal plate and a roof.
A first aspect of the present invention provides an antenna device for vehicle that is attached to a roof of a vehicle, the antenna device for vehicle including: an antenna base; an antenna case covering the antenna base from above; and an antenna element provided inside the antenna case, in which the antenna base has a metal base fixed to the roof and a metal plate electrically connected with the metal base.
In the first aspect, the metal plate forms an inductance and a capacitance between the metal plate and the roof, and a resonance frequency of unnecessary resonance may thereby be adjusted. Thus, even if a component corresponding to a conductor plate described in Patent Literature 1 is not provided, a decrease in antenna gain of the antenna element may be inhibited. Further, adjustment of the resonance frequency of the unnecessary resonance is achieved by the metal plate that may be fabricated by sheet metal, and it thereby becomes possible to prepare the metal plates for plural different specifications inexpensively and easily. Thus, while the metal base is provided as a common component, it becomes possible to change the unnecessary resonance occurring between the metal base and the roof easily and inexpensively in accordance with the used metal plate and the mounting positions of the metal plate, and it becomes possible to handle a decrease easily and inexpensively in antenna gain due to the unnecessary resonance for plural kinds of vehicles.
In the antenna device for vehicle, the antenna base may have a shape which has a front-rear direction of the vehicle as a longitudinal direction in an attachment attitude to the roof, the metal plate may be provided on a front end side and/or a rear end side of the metal base in the attachment attitude, and an electrical length which includes the metal base and the metal plate may be longer than an electrical length of only the metal base in the longitudinal direction.
Accordingly, the problem may be solved without changing a lateral width of the antenna device for vehicle. Thus, the antenna device for vehicle in design taking into account air resistance in vehicle travel may be formed.
Further, because the electrical length which includes the metal base and the metal plate is longer than the electrical length of only the metal base, the resonance frequency of the unnecessary resonance is shifted to a low frequency side of a communication frequency band of the antenna element, and a decrease in antenna gain may thereby be inhibited.
In the antenna device for vehicle, the metal plate may have a meander shape or a spiral shape.
Accordingly, the electrical length may more effectively be increased than employing a metal plate in a simple rectangular shape. When a long electrical length may be obtained, it becomes possible to separate the resonance frequency of the unnecessary resonance farther from the communication frequency band. Further, because it becomes possible to realize the same electrical length as a case of a metal plate in a rectangular shape in a small installation area, size reduction of the antenna device for vehicle may be realized. Realization of a small-sized antenna device for vehicle means that a decrease in the installation area with respect to the roof of the vehicle may be realized. This results in a less difference in a decrease inhibition effect of antenna gain due to a difference in a roof shape, and in spite of a single specification, a stable decrease inhibition effect of antenna gain may be obtained for plural vehicles.
In the antenna device for vehicle, the antenna base may have an electrical length adjustment circuit, which adjusts an electrical length between the metal base and the metal plate, and the metal base and the metal plate may be electrically connected together via the electrical length adjustment circuit.
Accordingly, because the electrical length may be changed by the electrical length adjustment circuit, size reduction of the antenna device for vehicle may be intended.
In the antenna device for vehicle, the metal base may have a projection portion for fixing to the roof, and a resonance frequency that occurs due to the roof and the antenna base that are electrically connected together via the projection portion may be out of a communication frequency band of the antenna element.
Accordingly, because the metal base has the projection portion for fixing to the roof, the antenna device for vehicle may be realized that may easily secure the fixing strength to the roof, provide a precise electrical connection between the metal base and the roof, and further provide similar effects to the above-described aspect by the metal plate.
In the antenna device for vehicle, the antenna base may have a resin base, and the metal plate may be arranged on the resin base.
Accordingly, the antenna device for vehicle may be realized in which the metal plate is arranged on the resin base.
In the antenna device for vehicle, the resin base may have a positioning shape portion that inhibits a position shift of the metal plate from a prescribed position of the metal plat.
Accordingly, in manufacturing the antenna device for vehicle, the metal plate may easily be arranged in the prescribed position. Further, a position shift of the metal plate from the prescribed position of the metal plate may be inhibited. Accordingly, attachment work of the metal plate may become easy.
The antenna device for vehicle may further include a second antenna element being different from the antenna element, in which a part or the whole of the second antenna element may be arranged so as to be positioned above the metal plate.
Accordingly, the antenna device for vehicle may be realized in which the second antenna element is arranged such that a part or the whole of the second antenna element is positioned above the metal plate.
In the antenna device for vehicle, the metal base and the metal plate may use different materials.
Alternatively, in the antenna device for vehicle, the metal base and the metal plate may use a same material.
A second aspect of the present invention provides an antenna device for vehicle that is attached to a roof of a vehicle, the antenna device for vehicle including: an antenna base having a metal plate fixed to the roof and a resin base; an antenna case covering the antenna base from above; and an antenna element provided inside the antenna case, in which the metal plate is arranged on the resin base.
In the second aspect, the antenna device for vehicle that provides similar actions and effects to the first aspect, may be configured.
In the antenna device for vehicle, a part or the whole of the antenna element may be positioned above the metal plate, and the metal plate may be formed such that a portion positioned below the antenna element is partially hollowed out.
Accordingly, a decrease in antenna gain may be inhibited.
In the antenna device for vehicle, the antenna base may have a shape which has a front-rear direction of the vehicle as a longitudinal direction in an attachment attitude to the roof, and the metal plate may be provided on a front side and/or a rear side of the antenna base in the attachment attitude.
Accordingly, the problem may be solved without changing a lateral width of the antenna device for vehicle. Thus, the antenna device for vehicle in design taking into account air resistance in vehicle travel may be formed.
Examples of embodiments to which the present invention is applied will hereinafter be described; however, it is a matter of course that forms, to which the present invention is applicable, are not limited to the following embodiments.
As illustrated in
The antenna device 10 has an antenna base 11 and a resin antenna case 13 that covers a portion above it. The antenna case 13 is usually made of a non-translucent resin such that an internal portion may not be seen, but
The antenna device 10 is formed in a so-called shark fin shape that is long in the front-rear direction as the whole, has a flat mounting surface, and looks like a dorsal fin of a shark or a dolphin in a side view. The antenna device 10 is mounted on an upper surface of the roof 3 such that its longitudinal direction goes along the front-rear direction of the vehicle 5. In other words, the antenna base 11 has a shape that has the front-rear direction of the vehicle as the longitudinal direction in an attachment attitude to the roof 3 of the vehicle 5.
A housing space is defined between the antenna base 11 and the antenna case 13 and incorporates an antenna element 15 and a substrate 17 on which various circuits for an antenna are mounted.
However, configuration elements incorporated in the housing space are not limited to those but may appropriately be selected. For example, although one antenna element 15 is used in this embodiment, a configuration is possible that incorporates plural kinds of separate antenna elements for different purposes of use.
The antenna base 11 of this embodiment has a resin base 20, a metal base 30, and a metal plate 40.
The resin base 20 is a plate-shaped body that forms a main flat bottom surface of the antenna device 10 and is molded with a non-conductive resin. As illustrated in
Further, in the resin base 20, a rib 23 higher than an outer peripheral portion is formed slightly inside an outer periphery, and a pedestal portion 22 is formed inside the rib 23. An upper surface of the pedestal portion 22 forms a flat surface that is in parallel or generally in parallel with the bottom surface. A penetrating portion 24 that passes through from the face to the back of the resin base 20 is provided in a central portion of the pedestal portion 22 in a top view (see
The pedestal portion 22 is provided with plural bosses 26 (see
The metal base 30 is a metal component that is long in the longitudinal direction of the antenna device 10 and is a die-cast product of an aluminum alloy, for example. As illustrated in
The projection portion 31 (see
Further, a cable insertion hole 32 (see
The plural bosses 33 are provided from a front side to an intermediate area of the metal base 30 and are used for fixing the metal base 30 to the resin base 20 by machine screws. The plural bosses 33 may be used for fixing in a case where an antenna element or the like for another purpose of use is additionally mounted.
Further, the substrate attachment screw bosses 35 (see
The metal plate 40 is a metal component that is formed from a different material from the metal base 30. For example, the metal plate 40 is a plate material fabricated from sheet metal and is a first electrical length adjustment element for adjusting a resonance frequency of unnecessary resonance in this embodiment. Here, the thickness of the metal plate 40 may be thinner than the thickness of the metal base 30, and the strength of the metal plate 40 may be lower than the strength of the metal base 30. That is, the metal plate 40 may be formed from an inexpensive component compared to the metal base 30. Further, the metal plate 40 may be formed from a conductive resin.
The metal plate 40 is placed on a rear end side of the pedestal portion 22 of the resin base 20 such that a plate surface is opposed to the roof 3 via the resin base 20. In other words, in a case where the metal plate 40 is considered as a portion of the metal base 30, it may be considered that the metal plate 40 is provided such that a top-view superimposed area of only the metal base 30, which is seen to overlap with the roof 3 in a top view, is expanded by inclusion of the metal plate 40. The portion is fastened and fixed to the resin base 20 together with the substrate 17 and the metal base 30 by the substrate attachment screw 54 and is electrically conducted with the substrate 17 and the metal base 30.
In a case where a portion of the metal plate 40 is attached to the metal base 30 so as to be superimposed on the metal base 30, it is possible that the unnecessary resonance occurs due to the superimposed region. Thus, the superimposed region between the metal plate 40 and the metal base 30 is desirably small. For example, in a case where superimposition between the metal plate 40 and the metal base 30 occurs due to fastening those together by the substrate attachment screw 54, the superimposed region is preferably limited to the portions superimposed due to fastening those together.
By attaching the metal plate 40, the strength of the resin base 20 may be enhanced to the strength of the resin base 20 including the metal plate 40 compared to a case where the metal plate 40 is not attached. Specifically, deformation, damage, or the like due to external force or temperature may be prevented. The example of
Further, the portion of the metal plate 40 is fixed to and electrically conducted with the metal base 30 by fastening those together by the substrate attachment screw 54, but another method may be employed. For example, the metal plate 40 and the metal base 30 may be electrically connected together by connecting the metal plate 40 and the metal base 30 together by substrate wiring, a connector, an electrical cord, or the like.
For example, a metal plate 40a of (1) of
Accordingly, even if a conductor plate mentioned in Patent Literature 1 is not provided, by providing the metal plate 40, the resonance frequency of the unnecessary resonance is adjusted so as to be out of a communication frequency band of the antenna element 15, and a decrease in antenna gain may be inhibited. Specifically, an electromagnetic action occurs between the metal plate 40 and the roof 3, the electrical length of the antenna base 11 increases by the electrical length of the metal plate 40 compared to the electrical length of only the metal base 30, and the resonance frequency of the unnecessary resonance that occurs due to the roof 3 and the antenna base 11 may be lowered. As a result, the resonance frequency of the unnecessary resonance may be moved to a lower range than a lower limit of the communication frequency band of the antenna element 15.
A more detailed description will be made. In a case where the antenna device 10 is attached to the roof 3, the unnecessary resonance at the frequency corresponding to the length of the metal base 30 in the longitudinal direction occurs due to the roof 3 and the metal base 30. As the metal base 30 becomes longer, the resonance frequency moves to a low range side. Thus, a method is possible that makes the metal base 30 longer and thereby moves the resonance frequency to the low range side. However, this method increases cost by extension of the length of the metal base 30. It is desired that making the metal base 30 long be avoided because the metal base 30 is a die-cast component that is expensive compared to the metal plate 40. In addition, preparation of different metal bases 30 for plural kinds of vehicles 5 among which shapes and so forth of the roof 3 are different becomes a factor in a cost increase. On the other hand, in this embodiment, because the resonance frequency is moved to the low range side by arranging the metal plate 40 less expensive than the metal base 30, a cost increase may be inhibited. Further, because it is sufficient that the metal base 30 is provided as a common component for plural kinds of vehicles 5 and the metal plate 40 is prepared for each of plural kinds of vehicles 5, a cost increase may also be inhibited in this point.
Next, a description will be made with regard to results of a simulation regarding the antenna device 10 of this embodiment.
The antenna element 15 of the antenna device 10 of this embodiment is capable of transmission and/or reception of a signal in a carrier frequency band (for example, a band from 699 MHz to 960 MHz or a band from 1,710 MHz to 2,690 MHz) of a cellular phone. In a case where the metal plate 40 is not provided, as indicated by the broken line, the unnecessary resonance occurs around the lower limit of the communication frequency band. In this case, it may be considered that a sufficient margin may not be obtained in consideration of a change in a mounting situation due to the shape or the like of the roof 3. However, as indicated by the thin solid line and thick solid line, the resonance frequency of the unnecessary resonance is lowered by providing the metal plate 40, and thereby the resonance frequency may largely be separated from the lower limit of the communication frequency band. Even in a case where the metal plate 40 is provided similarly, the metal plate 40 formed into the meander shape like the metal plate 40a has the same installation area in a top view but may increase the electrical length compared to the metal plate 40 formed into the rectangular flat plate shape like the metal plate 40c. Consequently, the resonance frequency of the unnecessary resonance may be lowered by such an increase.
As described above, in this embodiment, a decrease in antenna gain due to the unnecessary resonance may be prevented by a method other than providing a conductor plate between a metal plate and a roof.
Further, adjustment of the resonance frequency of the unnecessary resonance may be handled by a change in specification of the metal plate 40. Thus, because a die-cast component that is expensive compared to the metal plate 40 (the metal base 30 in this case) may be provided as a common component, it becomes possible to handle plural kinds of vehicles 5 inexpensively and easily.
That is, in a case where the antenna device 10 is configured as a product series applied to different kinds of vehicles, a different version of the metal plate 40 may be prepared. Thus, costs for creation of the product series of course, costs for management of component stocks, and manufacture may be kept very low. Alternatively, plural kinds of metal plates 40 are supplied together from the beginning. Then, in a case where a sufficient antenna gain may not be obtained when the antenna device 10 is mounted on the vehicle, it is possible to immediately and inexpensively take measures at the site by exchanging the metal plates 40.
Further, as a secondary effect, a flat grounding surface may be expanded to a rear end portion side in the housing space of the antenna device 10 by providing the metal plate 40. Accordingly, in a case where an installation position of the antenna element 15 is set to a portion above the metal plate 40 or a case where another antenna element is additionally installed above the metal plate 40, the distance between these antenna elements and the grounding surface as the metal plate 40 becomes the distance as intended in design, and an antenna gain as designed may be obtained.
Next, a second embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described.
In the first embodiment, the method that lowers the resonance frequency of the unnecessary resonance, is employed. However, in this embodiment, a method that conversely raises the resonance frequency of the unnecessary resonance, is employed. In the following, a description will mainly be made about differences from the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are provided to similar configuration elements to the first embodiment, and duplicated descriptions thereof will be omitted.
The front-rear length of the metal base 30B of this embodiment is shorter than that of the metal base 30 of the first embodiment. In the example of
Meanwhile, the metal plate 40B of this embodiment corresponds to the front portion in a case where the metal base 30 of the first embodiment is divided into three parts of the front portion, the central portion, and the rear portion and is attached to the resin base 20 by the attachment screws 28.
The antenna device 10B of this embodiment may largely separates the resonance frequency of the unnecessary resonance to a higher frequency than an upper limit of the communication frequency band and may thus obtain similar effects to the antenna device 10 of the first embodiment.
In the above, the examples of the embodiments to which the present invention is applied are described. However, forms to which the present invention is applicable are not limited to the above forms, but appropriate addition, omission, and alterations of the configuration elements may be conducted.
For example, the metal plate 40 of the first embodiment is in a two-dimensional planar shape, but a three-dimensional shape such as a meander shape in which folds are provided in the vertical direction may be employed.
Further, as an antenna device 10C that is based on the first embodiment and illustrated in
Similarly, the antenna device 10B of the second embodiment may be configured such that the metal base 30B and the metal plate 40B are connected together by the electrical length adjustment circuit 61 as an antenna device 10D illustrated in
It is possible to lower and raise the resonance frequency of the unnecessary resonance in accordance with the design of the circuit constant of the electrical length adjustment circuit 61. In a case where a switch is provided to the electrical length adjustment circuit 61, a switch that connects or disconnects the metal base 30 and the metal plate 40 may be provided in addition to the switches that introduce or disconnect elements such as a capacitor or a coil as in (e) of
Further, a configuration including one metal plate is explained in the above embodiments, but it is possible to have a configuration including plural metal plates. For example, it is possible to have a configuration that plural metal plates are respectively provided on a front end side and a rear end side of the metal base 30 in an attachment attitude.
Further, in a case where the antenna device of the above embodiments is configured to incorporate a composite antenna, it is preferable to provide a second antenna element and a second substrate above the metal plate. Specifically, as illustrated in
In the example of
In any case, in a case of a configuration that the second antenna element 15B is provided above the metal plate, the antenna device is placed on whatever kind of vehicle 5, the distance between the second antenna element 15B and the metal plate becomes a fixed distance. Thus, regardless of the shape of the roof 3, a stable antenna gain as designed may be obtained.
If a space is present among plural antenna elements in the antenna device in a planar view, the metal plate may be arranged in a position interposed among the plural antenna elements.
In this embodiment, although the metal plate is used, similar effects may be obtained by arranging a rigid substrate or a flexible substrate on which a pattern is formed. By using a substrate, an electrical length adjustment circuit may be added without increasing structural components.
In the above-described embodiments, a description is made on the assumption that the size of the metal plate 40 in the width direction (vertical direction in
In the above-described embodiments, a description is made on the assumption that the metal plate 40 is arranged on the pedestal portion 22 of the resin base 20. Here, the pedestal portion 22 may be provided with a structure for facilitating positioning in arrangement of the metal plate 40 and inhibiting a position shift from a prescribed position. For example,
Although both of the metal base and the metal plate are used in the first embodiment, a configuration may be made only with the metal plate. In this case, the metal plate has an attachment mechanism to the roof. Since an expensive metal die-cast component is not used and components that connects the metal base with the metal plate are not used either, it becomes possible to reduce cost compared to the first embodiment.
A description will be made regarding several more specific application examples based on the above-described embodiments and modification examples.
The antenna element 151 is a patch antenna. The antenna element 152 is a radio antenna. The antenna element 153 is a keyless antenna for a keyless entry system. The keyless entry system is also referred to as smart entry system, and an operation frequency of the keyless antenna is 925 MHz, for example.
The antenna device 100A includes the antenna element 153 for the keyless antenna in the rear of the metal base 300. The antenna element 153 is arranged on the metal plate 400B. Thus, similarly to the antenna device 10B illustrated in
The antenna device 100B of the second application example has a configuration that the antenna element 153 and the metal plate 400A are removed from the antenna device 100A of the first application example. The positional relationship between the metal base 300 and the metal plate 400B is similar to the antenna device 10 in
The metal bases 30 and 300 are described as die-cast products of an aluminum alloy, for example, but may be fabricated from sheet metal. Further, the metal plates 40, 400, 400A, and 400B are metal components of a different material from the metal bases 30 and 300 but may be formed from the same material.
It is possible to use the multi-use metal plate 400D of the comparative example for the antenna device 100C of the third application example, however, the antenna device 100C is configured not by using the multi-use metal plate 400D but by using the multi-use metal plate 400C. The multi-use metal plate 400C has a shape in which a central portion on a rear side is hollowed out in an attachment attitude. Explaining it in relation to the antenna element 154, a portion or the whole of the antenna element 154 is positioned above the multi-use metal plate 400C. The multi-use metal plate 400C has a shape in which a portion positioned below the antenna element 154 is partially hollowed out.
Further, in the multi-use metal plate 400C, a height position L2 of a lower surface on a rear side is formed high by a height Δh compared to a height position L1 of the lower surface on a front side. Accordingly, when the antenna device 100C is attached to the roof 3, the distance between the rear side of the multi-use metal plate 400C and the roof 3 may be made long. Thus, the capacitance that occurs between the roof 3 and the multi-use metal plate 400C is reduced, the resonance frequency of the unnecessary resonance is shifted to a high frequency side of the communication frequency band of the antenna element, and a decrease in antenna gain may thereby be inhibited.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-244548 | Dec 2017 | JP | national |
The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/955,800, filed Jun. 19, 2020, which is based on PCT filing PCT/JP2018/047080, filed Dec. 20, 2018, which claims priority to JP 2017-244548, filed Dec. 20, 2017, the entire contents of each are incorporated herein by reference.
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| Parent | 16955800 | US | |
| Child | 17894180 | US |
