Communications: radio wave antennas – Antennas – With vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-27
2002-06-25
Ho, Tan (Department: 2821)
Communications: radio wave antennas
Antennas
With vehicle
C343S906000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06411259
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a motor vehicle antenna device.
2. Description of the Related Technology
An example of one such motor vehicle antenna device is disclosed in DE 37 19 692C2. One version of its practical implementation is for Mercedes Benz passenger cars of series W 210, wherein a radio frequency device, which contains matching circuits and amplifiers, is attached to the body. The device is connected via cables to contact sites of the antenna structure(s) located on the edge of the window. The cables are either detachably plugged into or permanently soldered the contact sites of the window and to the radio frequency device.
These contacts must compensate for all tolerances between the body and the front or rear window of the vehicle, which are connected by flexible cement. These tolerances are due to shaking movements of the vehicle, and form in the production of contacts, installation of the window and radio frequency device.
The contact sites of the antenna structures are produced, among others, as a silver print relative to the window edge of the window relative to the body. The tolerances of the contact sites of the antenna structures dictate relatively large contact surfaces which are unfavorable in terms of radio frequency technology.
The antenna parameters are influenced by the laying of the connecting cables. The terminal impedance of the antenna is especially influenced by which on the input side high tolerances, which must likewise be balanced, arise, in the radio frequency device. Moreover, all the solder on the vehicle window is a problem. The solder leads to high glass fracture rates as a result of pre-stress and poor thermal conductivity of the glass, and thus makes the system more expensive.
EP 0 386 678B1 furthermore discloses attaching active quadripoles. The quadripoles are intended to be connected to the antenna structures by soldering or cementing securely on the vehicle window. In this arrangement, tolerances between the vehicle window and the body need not be balanced. In addition, no vibration tolerances need to be balanced between the two when the vehicle is moving. This is due to the lack of motion of the radio frequency device relative to the body of the vehicle.
This prior art device is not suited for the repairs or replacement of the radio frequency device, because of the need for unsoldering and resoldering the repaired or replaced radio frequency device or the need to completely replace of the window is necessary.
In addition, it is necessary to connect the quadripole to the antennas by line and solder connections. The line and solder connections result in increased cost and the aforementioned danger of window breakage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to devise a vehicle antenna device in which the radio frequency device can be detachably fastened to the window as simply and economically as possible. Moreover, this device can be connected electrically to the connection sites of the antenna structure(s) without connecting lines and without soldering.
This object is achieved by the present invention. The tolerances and relative movements between the body and the window are insignificant due to the detachable arrangement of the radio frequency device to the vehicle window. Additionally, only the tolerances of the silver print, which are one order of magnitude less, need be balanced and thus replacement of the devices can be done easily and promptly. This is advantageous because it can be done for repair purposes or for use of different radio frequency devices matching to the altered conditions. In addition, it is also possible to provide the same base for a series of vehicles, and to then equip depending on the vehicle type or antenna type. The base may be equipped with a matching radio frequency device with an external form which is always the same with reference to secure holding, as matched to the base, and its contact schematic corresponds to the configurations of the respective connection sites.
The device as claimed in the invention is thus much more versatile compared to the described prior art. Additionally, changing the device does not require expensive replacement of the window.
Various electronic components can be used as the radio frequency device and matched to the requirements of the individual case. Generally, it is an amplifier with a matching circuit. However, when only a small window surface (which does not interfere with the view of the driver) is available, a circuit may be connected to a receiver or transmitter via a ribbon cable. This connection can either be a direct connection, or one via an amplifier mounted on the body of the car.
Furthermore, the radio frequency device, for example an amplifier, can therefore be connected directly, i.e., without a connecting line to the antenna base point. This is beneficial for both independently matching the structure of the vehicle and for reception, where optimal signal
oise ratio is achieved at the amplifier output. A matching element is not necessary in the case of transmission due to the direct connection of the radio frequency device to the antenna structure(s). Optimal transmitter power is available by matching the amplifier output to the base point impedances of the antenna structures transformed to the contact sites.
Advantageous versions and embodiments of the vehicle antenna device according to the invention are set forth and claimed herein.
For electrical connection of the radio frequency device to the contact points of the antenna structure(s) there is an especially simple version which is economical to produce involving direct connection of the device terminals to the contact sites. The base need not have any contact devices, and simply serve as a holding device, and thus can be produced extremely economically as a simple injection molding.
An alternative solution for the electrical connection of the radio frequency device and the antenna(s) involves direct connection of the device terminals installed in the base to the contact cites. This solution is more complex, due to the additional contacts in the base, but offers great diversity of structural configuration versions. There are possibilities of adaptation to different spatial circumstances.
By combining the contact points of several antenna structures which have been impressed on the windshield, for example for several frequency ranges and/or diversity reception, in a terminal panel of small area, the already low silver print tolerances are further reduced. According to the invention, the contact sites can be limited to a relatively small area (unlike as in the prior art, where according to DE 37 19 692L2, they are arranged around the entire vehicle window) thereby lowering cost. In this way the size of the base and the resulting adverse effect on vision can be minimized or the base can be located in an advantageous manner, for example under moldings of the vehicle.
Here it is especially favorable to execute the feeder lines from the base points of the antenna structures to the contact sites of the termination panel by coplanar lines. Coplanar lines can be easily produced and transmit good electrical data. The production of the coplanar lines with the silver printing of the antenna structures is especially economical and precise. This also applies to the markings which are provided for the positioning of the base. These markings enable prompt and accurately positioned attachment of the base on the vehicle window, which in turn allows exact assignment of the contacts of the radio frequency device to the contact sites and thus reliable contact-making for holding of the radio frequency device in the base. A series of technical approaches are possible for holding the device. A version which is simple in structure and production uses inwardly projecting projections on the frame of the base and corresponding outwardly projecting lugs on the radio frequency device to allow the device to be held in the base after installation.
Preferably the ra
Jäger Werner
Lipka Günter
Wendt Dirk
Fulbright & Jaworski
Ho Tan
Richard Hirschmann GmbH & Co.
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