Patent Application
20120249382
This invention relates to a glass antenna for receiving AM/FM radio broadcast wave band, which is provided to a rear window glass of an automobile, and more specifically to a diversity reception by two glass antennas for an FM radio.
Hitherto, glass antennas for receiving AM radio broadcast waves and FM radio broadcast waves achieve higher gains as areas surrounded by antenna strips become larger. Accordingly, these glass antennas are often provided on the rear window glass of the automobile which is easy to ensure a large area for obtaining a good reception gain. Furthermore, the rear window glass of the automobile is often formed on its central region with defogging heater strips (defogger) for ensuring rear visibility at the driving in the rain. Therefore, in case that the glass antenna is formed on the rear window glass, it has been forced to be formed in a blank space above or below the defogging heater strips.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-35412 discloses a glass antenna for a sedan-type automobile which is provided in blank spaces above and below defogging heater strips of a rear window glass of the automobile. This antenna includes a grounded antenna for AM/FM radios which is provided in the blank space above the defogging heating strips, and a grounded sub antenna for FM radio which is provided in the blank space below the defogging heating strips. Horizontal strips of the sub antenna are disposed to be apart from horizontal heating strips of the defogging heater strips, and/or horizontal strips bifurcating and extending from the horizontal heater strips of the defogging heater strips so as not to generate dip in the frequency characteristic. The interference by a metal frame of a movable backseat is prevented, and thereby the generation of the dip is prevented (Patent Document 1).
Moreover, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-284421 discloses a glass antenna for a vehicle which uses, as an antenna, a defogger constituted by a plurality of heating conductive strips disposed on a rear window glass of the vehicle, and bus bars disposed on outsides of the heating conductive strips. In this glass antenna, a loop element is disposed in a blank space above or below the defogger. This element is directly connected with a part of the defogger. The electric power is fed from this element (Patent Document 2).
Moreover, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-321711 discloses a high frequency glass antenna. The high frequency glass antenna includes an antenna conductor provided on a glass sheet of a window of an automobile, and another antenna conductor (6) which is provided on the glass sheet of the window of the automobile, and which is disposed adjacent to the antenna conductor with a predetermined distance so as to achieve the capacitive coupling. Moreover, the high frequency glass antenna includes another antenna conductor (16) which is provided on the glass sheet of the window, and is different from the antenna conductor and the antenna conductor (6). The antenna conductor (6) has a loop shaped portion in the electrical sense. The antenna conductor (6) is disposed adjacent to the antenna conductor (16) with a predetermined distance so as to achieve the capacitive coupling. Furthermore, the antenna conductor (16) is disposed adjacent to an opening portion (100) of an automobile body with a predetermined distance to achieve the capacitive coupling (Patent Document 3).
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-35412
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-284421
Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-321711
In the patent documents 1 and 2, the main antenna for receiving the AM/FM radio broadcast waves is provided in the blank space above the defogging heater strips of the rear window glass of the automobile, and the sub antenna for receiving the FM radio broadcast wave is provided in the blank space below the defogging heater strips. The FM main antenna and the FM sub antenna are arranged to achieve the diversity reception. However, even though the sub antenna for receiving the FM radio broadcast wave is provided in the blank space below the defogger, it is not possible to obtain the high reception gain. Accordingly, there is a problem that the sufficient diversity effects cannot be obtained.
Moreover, in the patent document 3, the AM/FM radio broadcast wave receiving antenna 6 is provided in the upper blank space to achieve the capacitive coupling with the defogger of the rear window glass of the automobile. Furthermore, the FM radio broadcast wave receiving antenna 16 is provided adjacent to the antenna 6 to achieve the capacitive coupling with the upper side of the antenna 6. The FM radio broadcast wave receiving antenna 6 and the FM radio broadcast wave receiving antenna 16 are intentionally disposed adjacent to each other to achieve the capacitive coupling, so as to utilize mutual radio waves. However, in a case where the antennas with the same frequency band are adjacent to each other, there is a problem that the diversity effect is decreased by half due to the mutual interference.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to solve the above-described problems, that is, to obtain good reception characteristic and good directional characteristic when a main antenna and a sub antenna for receiving FM radio broadcast wave which are disposed in a blank space of a defogger of a rear window glass of an automobile are provided to achieve diversity reception.
That is, the present invention is an automotive window antenna which is an AM/FM radio glass antenna provided in a blank space above heating conductive strips of a rear window glass of the automobile, the automotive glass window antenna including: an FM radio main antenna which at least includes at least two of horizontal strips that are apart from each other, and a vertical strip connected at positions near substantially central points of the horizontal strips, and which is connected with a main feed point provided on a side of a longitudinal side of the window glass through a strip extending inwardly between the horizontal strips from one end portion or a midpoint portion of one of the horizontal strips; and an FM radio sub antenna which includes at least one horizontal strip, and which is provided on a side opposite to the feed point of the FM radio main antenna, at a substantially central position between the two horizontal strips of the FM radio main antenna so as not to achieve a capacitive coupling with the two horizontal strips which are apart from each other, the FM radio main antenna and the FM radio sub antenna being provided in the blank space above the heating conductive strips to achieve a diversity reception, and being connected to a tuner.
Alternatively, the present invention is the automotive window antenna wherein the FM radio sub antenna is disposed to be apart from the horizontal strips of the FM radio main antenna by 15 mm or more.
Alternatively, the present invention is the automotive window antenna wherein a main one of the horizontal strips of the FM radio sub antenna has a length of 360 mm-480 mm in case of a frequency of 76-90 MHz for Japanese domestic band, and a length of 280 mm-400 mm in case of a frequency of 88-108 MHz for foreign band.
Alternatively, the present invention is the automotive window antenna wherein the automotive window antenna further comprises a strip of a U-shape, a reverse U-shape, or a rectangular closed shape, or a strip formed by combing these shapes, which is located between a tip end or the midpoint portion of the one of the horizontal strips of the FM radio main antenna, and the main feed point.
Alternatively, the present invention is the automotive window antenna wherein the FM radio sub antenna includes a rectangular closed loop strip, or a return strip returned from a tip end of the horizontal strip.
The FM radio main antenna and the FM radio sub antenna were provided in the blank space above the defogger of the rear window glass of the automobile to achieve the diversity reception. With this, it was possible to attain the good reception characteristic and the good directional characteristic.
Moreover, it was possible to considerably decrease the man-hour necessary for the tuning, and to decrease the man-hour for the development, relative to the conventional pattern in which the FM radio sub antenna was provided in the blank space below the defogger. Moreover, it was possible to simplify the pattern of the FM radio sub antenna.
a)-(d) are front views showing glass antennas according to fifth to eighth embodiments of the present invention.
As shown in
The FM radio main antenna 10 at least includes at least two horizontal strips 11, 11•• which are apart from each other; and a vertical strip 12 connected at positions near substantially central points of the horizontal strips 11, 11••. In this FM radio main antenna 10, a strip extending inwardly between the horizontal strips 11, 11 from one end portion of one of the horizontal strips 11, 11•• is connected with a main feed point 4 provided on a side of a longitudinal side of the window glass 1. The FM radio main antenna 10 alone is also used as a receiving antenna for an AM radio broadcast wave band, and connected with an AM tuner (not shown).
It is optional to provide a return strip 13 extending from a tip end of one of the horizontal strips 11 extending in a direction opposite to main feed point 4 of the FM radio main antenna 10, parallel to the one of the horizontal strips 11. In this case, it is preferable that the return strip 13 is returned outwardly of the two horizontal strips 11 and 11 which are disposed to be apart from each other. However, in a case where a distance to a horizontal strip 21 of the FM radio sub antenna 20 can be ensured, the return strip 13 may be returned inwardly between the two horizontal strips 11 and 11 which are disposed to be apart from each other.
Moreover, it is preferable that main one of the horizontal strips 21 of the FM radio sub antenna 20 has a length of 360 mm-480 mm in case of a frequency of 76-90 MHz for Japanese domestic band, and a length of 280 mm-400 mm in case of 88-108 MHz for a foreign band, since it is possible to obtain a good reception sensitivity. The length of the main one of the horizontal strips 21 is a length of one of the horizontal strips 21 which is longer than the other horizontal strips 21 in case where there are the plurality of the horizontal strips 21, 21••.
Moreover, the strip may extend inwardly between the horizontal strips 11 and 11 through a strip of one of a U-shape, a reverse U-shape, and a rectangular loop shape (a rectangular shape) which is formed by bifurcating from the one end portion or the midpoint portion of one of the horizontal strips 11 and 11 of the FM radio main antenna 10, or through a strip formed by combing the above-described shapes, and may be connected with the main feed point 4 provided on the side of the longitudinal side of the window glass 1.
The strip extending from the end portion or the midpoint portion of uppermost one of the horizontal strips 11 which are the strips of one of the U-shape, the reverse U-shape, or the rectangular loop shape (the rectangular shape), or the strips formed by combining these shapes, and the strip similarly extending from the end portion or the midpoint portion of lowermost one of the horizontal strips 11 which are the strips of the one of the U-shape, the reverse U-shape, or the rectangular loop shape (the rectangular shape), or the strips formed by combining these shapes are connected with the main feeding point 4 of the FM radio main antenna 10, or the end portion or the midpoint portion of the one of the horizontal strips 11 of the FM radio main antenna 10.
On the other hand, the FM radio sub antenna 20 is provided at a position opposite to the main feed point 4 of the FM radio main antenna 10 at a substantially central position between the horizontal strips 11 of the FM radio main antenna 10 to ensure a distance so as not to achieve the capacitive coupling with the two horizontal strips 11 and 11 which are apart from each other. The FM radio sub antenna 20 includes at least one horizontal strip 21. The FM radio sub antenna 20 is connected with a sub feed point 5 provided on a side of the longitudinal side.
The FM radio sub antenna 20 may be a rectangular closed loop strip, or a strip having a return strip returned from the tip end of the horizontal strip.
It is preferable that the FM radio sub antenna 20 is disposed to be apart from each of the horizontal strips 11 and 11 of the FM radio main antenna 10 by 15 mm or more.
In
On the other hand, in
In the FM radio main antenna 10, the average reception gain was improved by 0.9 dB from −5.1 dB to −4.2 dB. In the FM radio sub antenna 20, the average reception gain was improved by 2.2 dB from −18.7 dB to −16.5 dB.
As a result, it was found that it was possible to improve the frequency characteristic by the antenna pattern in which the FM radio receiving sub antenna 20 is provided between the two separated horizontal strips 11 and 11 of the FM radio receiving main antenna 10 in the blank space above the heating conductive strips 2, as shown in
Besides, in a case of using for the FM radio broadcast wave of the foreign use of the frequency band of 88-108 MHz, the pattern is set identical to the antenna pattern shown as the Japanese domestic use. The lengths of the elements are adjusted to resonate in the frequency band of 88-108 MHz for the foreign use.
In a case where the FM radio main antenna 10 is provided in the blank space above the heating conductive strips 2 of the rear window glass 1 of the automobile and terrestrial digital broadcast wave receiving antennas are further provided, the distance between the at least two horizontal strips 11 and 11 of the FM radio main antenna 10 is increased, and the terrestrial digital broadcast wave receiving antennas are provided, respectively, at a blank space position between the upper horizontal strip 11 and the U-shaped or the rectangular strip 14 extending from the main feed point 4, at a blank space position between the upper horizontal strip 11 and the FM radio sub antenna 20.
Hereinafter, the present invention will be illustrated in detail with reference to the drawings.
As shown in
On the other hand, the FM radio sub antenna 20 is constituted by one horizontal strip 21 extending between the two horizontal strips 11 and 11′ of the FM radio main antenna 10 from the sub feed point 5 provided on the right side which is on the side opposite to the main feed point 4.
The glass plate 1 used in the first embodiment has a substantially trapezoid shape. The glass plate 1 has outline dimensions of an upper side of 1100 mm, a lower side of 1,150 mm, and a height of 700 mm. An inside size of the flange of the window flame are an upper side of 1040 mm, a lower side of 1,100 mm, and a height of 650 mm.
A length of the horizontal strip 11 of the FM radio main antenna 10=800 mm,
A length of the horizontal strips 11′ of the FM radio main antenna 10=810 mm,
A length of the vertical strip 12 of the FM radio main antenna 10=130 mm,
A length of the return strip 13 of the FM radio main antenna 10=960 mm,
A length of the horizontal strip of the U-shaped strip 14 of the FM radio main antenna 10=430 mm,
A length of the vertical strip of the U-shaped strip 14 of the FM radio main antenna 10=60 mm
A length of the horizontal strip 21 of the FM radio sub antenna 20=440 mm, Distances between the horizontal strips 11 and 11′ of the FM radio main antenna 10, and the horizontal strip 21 of the FM radio sub antenna 20=115 mm, 15 mm
These FM radio main antenna 10, the FM radio sub antenna 20, the main feed point 4, the sub feed point 5, the bus bars 3 and 3′, and the strips of the heating conductive strips 2 are formed by printing on the glass sheet by the conductive paste such as silver paste, and then baking.
The thus-obtained window glass sheet was mounted on the rear window of the automobile. Moreover, the FM radio antenna 10 and the FM radio sub antenna 20 are connected, respectively, from the feed points 4 and 5 through the diversity circuit (not shown) to the FM tuner (not shown) by coaxial cables and so on.
As a result, in the FM radio main antenna 10 shown in
Moreover, in the FM radio sub antenna 20, the frequency characteristic shown by the thin solid line of
As shown in
Lengths of the horizontal strips 21 and 21 of the FM radio sub antenna 20 are 360 mm and 460 mm. A distance between the horizontal strips 21 and 21 of the FM sub antenna 20 is 70 mm. Distances between the horizontal strips 11 and 11′ of the FM radio main antenna 10 and the horizontal strips 21 of the FM radio sub antenna 20 are 30 mm and 35 mm. The other parameters are identical to those of the first embodiment.
These antennas 10 and 20, the feed points 4 and 5, the bus bars 3 and 3′, and the heating conductive strips 2 are formed by printing on the glass sheet by the conductive paste such as the silver paste, and then baking
The thus-obtained window glass sheet was mounted on the rear window of the automobile. Moreover, the FM radio antenna 10 and the FM radio sub antenna 20 were connected, respectively, from the feed points 4 and 5 through the diversity circuit (not shown) to the FM tuner (not shown) by the coaxial cables and so on. Consequently, it was found that the glass antenna according to the second embodiment has sufficient practical level, like the first embodiment.
As shown in
A length of a transverse side of the closed loop strip 21′ of the FM radio sub antenna 20 is 420 mm. A length of a longitudinal side of the closed loop strip 21′ of the FM radio sub antenna 20 is 25 mm. Distances between the horizontal strips 11 and 11′ of the FM radio main antenna 10 and the closed loop strip 21′ of the FM radio sub antenna 20 are 85 mm and 20 mm. The other parameters are identical to those of the first embodiment.
These antennas 10 and 20, the feed points 4 and 5, the bus bars 3 and 3′, and the heating conductive strips 2 are formed by printing on the glass sheet by the conductive paste such as the silver paste, and then baking.
The thus-obtained window glass sheet was mounted on the rear window of the automobile. Moreover, the FM radio antenna 10 and the FM radio sub antenna 20 are connected, respectively, from the feed points 4 and 5 through the diversity circuit (not shown) to the FM tuner (not shown) by the coaxial cables and so on. Consequently, it was found that the glass antenna according to the third embodiment has sufficient practical level, like the first embodiment.
As shown in
Lengths of the lower horizontal strips 11′ and 11′ of the FM radio main antenna 10 are 955 mm and 960 mm. A length of the vertical strip 12 is 150 mm. The other parameters are identical to those of the first embodiment.
These antennas 10 and 20, the feed points 4 and 5, the bus bars 3 and 3′, and the heating conductive strips 2 are formed by printing on the glass sheet by the conductive paste such as the silver paste, and then baking.
The thus-obtained window glass sheet was mounted on the rear window of the automobile. Moreover, the FM radio antenna 10 and the FM radio sub antenna 20 are connected, respectively, from the feed points 4 and 5 through the diversity circuit (not shown) to the FM tuner (not shown) by the coaxial cables and so on. Consequently, it was found that the glass antenna according to the fourth embodiment has sufficient practical level, like the first embodiment.
As to fifth to eighth embodiments shown in
These antennas 10 and 20, the feed points 4 and 5, the bus bars 3 and 3′, and the heating conductive strips 2 are formed by printing on the glass sheet by the conductive paste such as the silver paste, and then baking.
The thus-obtained window glass sheet was mounted on the rear window of the automobile. Moreover, the FM radio antenna 10 and the FM radio sub antenna 20 are connected, respectively, from the feed points 4 and 5 through the diversity circuit (not shown) to the FM tuner (not shown) by the coaxial cables and so on. Consequently, it was found that the glass antenna according to the fifth to eighth embodiments has sufficient practical level, like the first embodiment.
By the above-described glass antennas according to the present invention, the FM radio main antenna and the FM radio sub antenna were provided in the blank space above the defogger of the rear window glass of the automobile to achieve the diversity reception. With this, it was possible to attain the good reception characteristic, and the good directional characteristic.
Moreover, it was possible to considerably decrease the man-hour necessary for the tuning, and to decrease the man-hour for the development, relative to the conventional pattern in which the FM radio sub antenna was provided in the blank space below the defogger. Furthermore, it was possible to simplify the pattern of the FM radio sub antenna.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-293890 | Dec 2009 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2010/070649 | 11/19/2010 | WO | 00 | 5/1/2012 |
