Patent Application
20130257663
The present invention relates to a glass antenna for a vehicle provided in window glass. Further, the present invention relates to window glass for a vehicle provided with a glass antenna.
As a usual technique, a glass antenna is known which takes out reception signals of an FM broadcast wave and an AM broadcast wave from one feeding point (for instance, see patent literature 1). In the glass antenna of the patent literature 1, an antenna conductor for an AM broadcasting band is connected closely to a heater line of a defogger to use a structure in which the heater line of the defogger is also used as a part of the antenna conductor for the AM broadcasting band (see a right section of an upper column on page 4 and FIG. 1 of the patent literature 1).
In order to use the defogger as the antenna conductor for the AM broadcasting band, a choke coil is necessary. The defogger has two bus bars, one of which is connected to a DC power source and the other of which is connected to a ground. The choke coils are inserted respectively between the defogger and the DC power source and between the defogger and the ground. However, in the choke coil applied to the AM broadcasting band, an inductance value needs to be set to a large value so as to obtain high impedance in a low frequency band. Accordingly, a problem arises that the choke coil itself is very large to increase a weight.
As a structure which can delete the choke coil, there is a glass antenna disclosed in patent literature 2. The glass antenna of the patent literature 2 also takes out reception signals of broadcast waves of two different frequency bands from one feeding point like the glass antenna of the patent literature 1. However, the glass antenna of the patent literature 2 uses a structure that an antenna conductor for a low frequency band is separated from a heater line of a defogger (see FIG. 1 of patent literature 2).
The glass antenna of the patent literature 2 can effectively allow a directivity of a high frequency band to come close to a round shape (non-directivity).
Patent Literature 1: JP-A-62-38001
Patent Literature 2: JP-A-2008-182682
In the glass antenna of the patent literature 2, the directivity of the high frequency band is substantially round in its shape, however, an antenna gain in a specific direction is lower than an antenna gain in other direction. Thus, there is a room for improvement of the antenna gain in the specific direction.
In this point, as a unit for improving an antenna gain of a glass antenna for an FM broadcasting band, a structure is supposed to be used in which an antenna conductor is electrically connected to a defogger. When the antenna conductor is electrically connected to the defogger, a choke coil is necessary. Since the antenna conductor uses in common a low frequency band and a high frequency band, the choke coil for the low frequency band is necessary. Thus, the above-described problems arise.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a glass antenna for a vehicle and window glass for a vehicle having the glass antenna which can obtain a reception property that can meet two frequency bands of a low frequency band and a high frequency band without a choke coil for the low frequency band and allow a directivity of the high frequency band to come closer to a round shape.
In order to achieve the above object, a glass antenna according to the present invention is a glass antenna for a vehicle provided in window glass of a vehicle, comprising:
a shared antenna conductor which meets a first frequency band and a second frequency band higher than the first frequency band; and
a feeding part connected to the shared antenna conductor, wherein
the shared antenna conductor includes a first element extended from the feeding part as a starting point and a second element extended from the first element as a starting point,
a termination of an extension of the first element and a termination of an extension of the second element are provided to be close to each other so that at least a part of the first element and the second element configure a semi-loop form having a cut-out part in a part of a loop form,
when a wavelength in air in a central frequency of the second frequency band is λ02, a glass shortening coefficient of wavelength is k2 (in this case, k2=0.64) and λg2=λ02·k2, a conductor length of the first element is 0.65 λg2 or higher and 1.0 λg2 or lower, and
the shortest distance between a defogger provided in the window glass and the shared antenna conductor is 15 mm or longer.
Further, in order to achieve the above object, a window glass for a vehicle is a window glass for a vehicle provided with the glass antenna for a vehicle.
According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a reception property that can meet two frequency bands of a low frequency band and a high frequency band without a choke coil for the low frequency band and to allow a directivity of the high frequency band to come closer to a round shape.
Now, an exemplary embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described below by referring to the drawings. In the drawings for describing the exemplary embodiment, when there is no description of directions especially, directions are supposed to indicate directions on the drawings. Reference directions on the drawings respectively correspond to directions shown by marks and numeric characters. Further, directions such as parallel and right-angled directions permit such a shift as not to harm effects of the present invention. Further, plan views are respectively views when a surface of glass which is opposed is seen. The plan views are respectively views seen inside a vehicle under a state that window glass according to the present invention is attached to the vehicle, however, they may be referred to as views seen outside the vehicle. Vertical direction in the plan views respectively correspond to a vertical direction of the vehicle. Lower sides of the views respectively correspond to road surface sides. Further, when the window glass is rear window attached to a rear part of the vehicle, a transverse direction on the drawing corresponds to a direction of width of the vehicle.
The defogger 30 has an electrical heating type pattern including the plurality of parallel heater lines (upper side heater lines 30a and 30b are exemplified and lower heater lines are omitted in
The glass antenna 100 is a single pole type antenna including the shared antenna conductor which can meet a reception of radio waves of a first frequency band and a second frequency band higher in its band than the first frequency band and the feeding part 16 connected to the shared antenna conductor. Namely, the glass antenna is an antenna which is shared by one feeding part 16 to feed to the first frequency band and the second frequency band. For instance, as the first frequency band, an AM broadcasting band is exemplified. As the second frequency band, an FM broadcasting band is exemplified.
The feeding part 16 is a feeding point of the shared antenna conductor. When the window glass 12 is attached to an opening part of a vehicle body, the feeding part 16 is arranged on the window glass 12 so as to be located and opposed to a side edge of the opening part of the vehicle body in the direction of width of the vehicle body.
The glass antenna 100 includes, as a pattern of the shared antenna conductor, at least a first element 1 extended from the feeding part 16 as a starting point and a second element 2 extended from the first element 1 as a starting point (namely, from a connecting point E). A termination C of an extension of the first element 1 and a termination B of an extension of the second element 2 are provided to be close to each other so that at least a part of the first element 1 and the second element 2 configure a semi-loop form having a cut-out part 13 in a part of a loop form. Then, when a wavelength in air in a central frequency of the second frequency band is λ02, a glass shortening coefficient of wavelength is k2 (in this case, k2=0.64) and λg2=λ02·k2, the cut-out part 13 is formed so that a conductor length of the first element 1 is 0.65 λg2or higher and 1.0 λg2 or lower. Namely, the first element 1 is an element, the conductor length from the connecting point E of which is longer, of the two elements extended from the feeding point 16 as the starting point and branching from the connecting point E. The conductor length from an end point A is 0.65 λg2 or higher and 1.0 λg2 or lower and the termination C is formed as an opened end.
The first element 1 includes a connection element 1a which connects the feeding part 16 to the connecting point E at which it is connected to the second element 2, a partial element 1b which is linearly extended rightward from the connecting point E as a starting point to form the upper side part of the semi-loop form, a partial element 1c which is linearly extended downward from a termination of a rightward extension of the partial element 1b as a starting point to form the right side part of the semi-loop form and a partial element 1d which is linearly extended leftward from a termination of a downward extension of the partial element 1c as a starting point to form a part of the lower side part of the semi-loop form. The partial element 1d is extended to the termination C of the extension of the first element 1.
Further, the second element 2 includes a partial element 2a which is linearly extended downward from the connecting point E to the first element 1 as a starting point to form the left side part of the semi-loop form and a partial element 2b which is linearly extended rightward from a termination of a downward extension of the partial element 2a to from a part of the lower side part of the semi-loop form. The partial element 2b is extended to the termination B of the extension of the second element 2.
The termination C of the extension of the first element 1 is not connected to the termination B of the extension of the second element 2, but is allowed to come close thereto to configure the cut-out part 13 of the semi-loop form.
Further, when the wavelength in air in the central frequency of the second frequency band is λ02, the glass shortening coefficient of wavelength is k2 (in this case, k2=0.64), λg2=λ02·k2, and the conductor length L1 of the first element 1 (in the case of
For instance, when the FM broadcasting band in Japan (76 to 90 MHz) is set as the second broadcasting frequency band, a central frequency thereof is 83 MHz. On the other hand, a central frequency of an FM broadcasting band (88 to 108 MHz) in USA is 98 MHz.
Accordingly, for instance, when an antenna gain of the FM broadcasting band in USA is desired to be improved, assuming that a speed of radio wave is 3.0×108 m/s, λg2 in 98 MHz of the central frequency thereof is 1.959 m. Accordingly, the conductor length L1 of the first element 1 may be adjusted to 1280 mm or larger and 1950 mm or smaller, and more preferably to 1380 mm or larger and 1860 mm or smaller.
Further, when the shared antenna conductor is arranged in the upper side of the defogger 30 so as to ensure the shortest distance H2 of 15 mm or larger (preferably, 25 mm or larger) from the defogger 30, a preferable result is obtained from the viewpoint of improvement of the antenna gain of a first broadcasting frequency band.
In the case of
As described above, in the glass antenna having such a form as illustrated in
As the above-described electrically conductive member, for instance, a feeding line such as an AV line or a coaxial cable is used. When the AV line is used, the AV line is electrically connected to the feeding part 16. When the coaxial cable is used, an inner conductor of the coaxial cable may be electrically connected to the feeding part 16 and an outer conductor of the coaxial cable may be grounded and connected to the vehicle body. Further, a structure may be used in which a connector for electrically connecting the electrically conductive member such as a conductor connected to the signal processor to the feeding part 16 is mounted on the feeding part 16. By such a connector, the AV line or the inner conductor of the coaxial cable is easily attached to the feeding part 16. Further, a structure may be formed in which a protruding electrically conductive member is provided in the feeding part 16 so that the protruding electrically conductive member comes into contact with and is fitted to a flange of the vehicle body to which the window glass 12 is attached.
A “termination part” may be a terminal point of an extension of the element or a position near the terminal point as a conductor part before the terminal point. Connecting parts of the elements may be connected together with a curvature.
The shared antenna conductor and the feeding part 16 are formed by printing and baking paste including electrically conductive metal such as silver paste, for instance, on an inner side surface of the window glass of the vehicle. However, a forming method of the shared antenna and the feeding part is not limited to the above-described forming method and a linear member or a foil shaped member made of an electrically conductive material such as copper may be formed on an inner side surface or an outer side surface of the window glass of the vehicle, may be bonded to the window glass by a bonding agent or may be provided in an inner part of the window glass itself.
A configuration of the feeding part 16 may be determined in accordance with a form of a mounting surface of the above-described electrically conductive member or the connector or a space of the mounting surface thereof. For instance, square forms such as a square form, a substantially square form, a rectangular form and a substantially rectangular form or polygonal forms are preferable in view of mounting. Circular forms may be used, such as a circular form, a substantially circular form, an elliptic form and a substantially elliptic form.
A conductor layer formed with each antenna conductor may be provided in an inner part or a surface of a synthetic resin film and the synthetic resin film with the conductor layer may be formed on the inner side surface or the outer side surface of a window glass plate of a vehicle to form a glass antenna. Further, a flexible circuit board having each antenna conductor formed may be provided on the inner side surface or the outer side surface of the window glass of the vehicle to form the glass antenna.
A shield film may be formed on a surface of the window glass 12 and the feeding part and a part or an entire part of the antenna conductor may be provided on the shield film. As the shield film, ceramics such as a black ceramic film may be exemplified. In this case, when the part of the antenna conductor is seen from an outer side of the of the window glass of the vehicle, the part of the antenna conductor provided on the shield film is not seen from the outer side of the window glass of the vehicle due to the shield film, so that the window glass excellent in its design is obtained. In the structure shown in the drawing, since the feeding part and a part of the antenna conductor are formed on the shield film (between an edge of the shield film and an edge of the window glass 12), only a thin straight line part of the conductor is seen outside the vehicle, which is preferable in view of design.
When the shortest distance L of the first element 1 and the second element 2 of the cut-out part 13 is set to 2 mm or longer and 75 mm or shorter, more preferably to 2 mm or longer and 60 mm or shorter, and more preferably to 2 mm or longer and 15 mm or shorter, a preferable result is obtained from the viewpoint of improvement of the antenna gain of the high frequency band and a non-directivity of the high frequency band. A lower limit value “2 mm” of the shortest distance L is a limit accuracy with which the antenna conductor can be printed on the window glass.
The semi-loop form illustrated in
When a height (a conductor length of the partial element 2a corresponding to the left side part of the semi-loop form in
As shown in
The first extension element 3 shown in
For instance, assuming that a high frequency band is an FM broadcasting band, and dimensions (unit: mm) of parts of the glass antenna 300 shown in
By adding the first auxiliary element 4, a resistance value between A and C can be lowered and an average antenna gain can be improved which is calculated by averaging antenna gains respectively of frequencies of a high frequency band. A clearance H3 between a partial element 1b and the first auxiliary element 4 is preferably set to 2 mm or longer and 40 mm or shorter to improve the average antenna gain.
The first auxiliary element 4 shown in
For instance, assuming that a high frequency band is an FM broadcasting band, and dimensions (unit: mm) of parts of the glass antenna 400 shown in
The second auxiliary element 5 is linearly extended leftward from a point J on a partial element 1c which forms a right side part of a semi-loop form as a starting point, connected to a partial element 2a which forms a left side part and extended to a termination K of a leftward extension of the partial element 2a. By adding the second auxiliary element 5, an antenna gain of a low frequency band can be improved not so as to give an influence to a property of an antenna gain of a high frequency band.
Further, the second extension element is extended upward from a first element as a starting point, and then extended rightward or leftward. In
The third auxiliary element is connected to a lower side part and the upper side part and extended in parallel with or substantially in parallel with the right side part or the left side part. In
In a glass antenna for a motor vehicle which is manufactured by attaching the above-described form of the glass antenna to rear window of an actual vehicle, actually measured results of frequency properties will be describe below.
A conductor width of each element in this example is set to 0.8 mm. Further, a size of a feeding part 16 is set to 27 mm in a vertical direction and to 13 mm in a transverse direction.
An antenna gain is actually measured by attaching window glass for the motor vehicle having the glass antenna to a window frame of the motor vehicle on a turntable. A connector is attached to a feeding part. A feeding line is connected to the connector to connect the feeding part 16 to an amplifier through the feeding line. The amplifier has a gain of 8 dB. Further, the amplifier is connected by a tuner and the feeding line (1.5 C-2V 4.5 m). A radio wave (a polarized wave has a plane of polarization of frequency of 88 to 108 MHz of which is inclined at 45° from a horizontal plane) is applied from a horizontal direction to the window glass while the turntable is turned to change an incident angle of the radio wave to the window glass.
The antenna gain is measured in such a way that a vehicle center of the motor vehicle to which the glass of the glass antenna is attached is set to a center of the turntable and the radio wave of a predetermined frequency is transmitted while the motor vehicle is turned by 360°. Data of the antenna gain is measured for each rotating angle of 1° and for each MHz in an irradiation frequency band of 88 to 108 MHz. A measurement is carried out in a direction where an angle of elevation formed by a transmitting position of the radio wave and an antenna conductor is in a substantially horizontal direction (assuming that in a plane parallel to the ground, an angle of elevation=0°, and in a direction of zenith, an angle of elevation=90°, a direction of the angle of elevation=0°). In below-illustrated graphs, results are mentioned which are obtained by measuring an antenna to be measured in an electric field atmosphere where an antenna terminal voltage induced in a reference half-wave dipole antenna is 60 dBμV.
An axis of ordinate in
Dimensions (unit: mm) of parts respectively of the glass antenna 100 (
Dimensions (unit: mm) of parts respectively of the glass antenna 300 (
Dimensions (unit: mm) of parts respectively of the glass antenna 400 (
Dimensions (unit: mm) of parts respectively of the glass antenna 600 (
Dimensions (unit: mm) of parts respectively of the glass antenna REF (
Since “x**” (** represents figures) is shown by an arrow mark in
An axis of ordinate in
When the average antenna gains of
In the present invention, the first frequency band is preferably applied to, for instance, an MF band of 300 k to 3 MHz. As a use of a radio wave of the MF band, an AM radio broadcasting (520 to 1700 kHz) is exemplified. Further, in the present invention, the second frequency band is preferably applied to, for instance, a VHF band of 30M to 0.3 GHz. As a use of a radio wave of the VHF band, are exemplified an FM broadcasting band (76 to 90 MHz) in Japan, an FM broadcasting band (88 to 108 MHz) in USA and a television VHF band (90 to 108 MHz, 170 to 222 MHz). Further, in the present invention, the second frequency band is preferably applied to, for instance, to a low frequency side of a UHF band of 0.3 G to 3 GHz. As a use of a radio wave of the low frequency side of the UHF band, are exemplified a keyless entry system (300 to 450 MHz) for a vehicle and 800 MHz band (810 to 960 MHz) for a telephone of a motor vehicle.
This application is described in detail by referring to the specific exemplary embodiments, however, it is to be understood to a person with ordinary skill in the art that various change or modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
This application is based on Japanese Patent Application (JPA. No. 2010-265619) filed on Nov. 29, 2010 and its contents arc incorporated herein as a reference.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-265619 | Nov 2010 | JP | national |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/JP2011/077103 | Nov 2011 | US |
| Child | 13903590 | US |
