High frequency wave glass antenna for an automobile and window glass sheet for an automobile with the same

A high frequency wave glass antenna for an automobile includes an antenna conductor formed in a loop shape and disposed in or an automobile window glass sheet, the antenna conductor having a discontinuity and feeding portions at both ends of the discontinuity or in the vicinity of said both ends, the discontinuity being formed of a portion of the loop shape cut by a length. The antenna conductor includes a detour in a portion of the loop shape, the detour being formed of a single or a plurality of detour elements, the detour being disposed in a position, which satisfies that a rate of a distance from a center of the discontinuity of the original loop shape to a center of the detour of the original loop shape with respect to a length of an inner peripheral edge or an outer peripheral edge of the original loop shape ranges from 0.18 to 0.4.

The present invention relates to a high frequency wave glass antenna for an automobile, which includes a loop-shaped antenna conductor. The present invention also relates to a window glass sheet for an automobile, which includes a loop-shaped antenna conductor.

As antennas for cell phones, there have been known loop antennas, which have a loop-shaped radiating conductor partly formed in a meandering shape (see, e.g. JP-A-2004-112044). The prior art disclosed in JP-A-2004-112044 aims at reducing the size of a loop antenna by including a portion formed in a meandering shape.

As antennas for vehicles, there have been known loop antennas, which include a loop-shaped element disposed on a dielectric portion of a vehicle (see, e.g. JP-A-2006-270602). The prior art disclosed in JP-A-2006-270602 aims at improving the directivity of a loop antenna by disposing a parasitic element in the vicinity of a loop-shaped element, the parasitic element comprising a conductor independent from a conductor forming the loop-shaped element.

There has also been known an antenna, which comprises a loop antenna having an electrical length of one wavelength of a first frequency, and a linear parasitic element having an electrical length of one-half wavelength of a second frequency different from the first frequency, extending along the loop antenna and being astride two feeding connection terminals of the loop antenna (see, e.g. JP-A-2007-67884). The prior art disclosed in JP-A-2007-67884 aims at providing the antenna with a wider bandwidth.

In the case of automobiles including a window glass sheet having a limited area for disposing a glass antenna, it is highly required to reduce the size of the antenna while it is required to have a reception performance in a wide bandwidth for receiving terrestrial digital broadcast waves. It has been difficult for the conventional high frequency wave glass antennas for automobiles to have a sufficient reception performance for receiving terrestrial digital broadcast waves.

It has been necessary to change antenna patterns according to different types of automobiles, such as feeding a glass antenna at a roof-side position of a window aperture area, and feeding a glass antenna at a pillar-side position of a window aperture area.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a small size of high frequency wave glass antenna for an automobile and a window glass sheet for an automobile, which have an antenna characteristic in a wide bandwidth and are suited to receive terrestrial digital broadcast waves.

In order to attain the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a high frequency wave glass antenna for an automobile, which includes an antenna conductor having a discontinuity, the antenna conductor being adapted to be disposed in or on an automobile window glass sheet and having feeding portions at both ends of the discontinuity or in the vicinity of said both ends, the discontinuity being formed of a portion of an original loop shape cut by a length; the antenna conductor having a detour in a portion of the original loop shape, the detour comprising a single or a plurality of detour elements, the detour being disposed in a position, which satisfies that a rate of a distance from a center of the discontinuity of the original loop shape to a center of the detour of the original loop shape with respect to a length of an inner peripheral edge or an outer peripheral edge of the original loop shape ranges from 0.18 to 0.4.

The window glass sheet for an automobile according to the present invention is characterized to have the above-mentioned antenna conductor disposed therein or thereon.

In accordance with the high frequency wave glass antenna of the present invention, it is possible to receive a desired broadcast frequency band with a high antenna gain even if the broadcast frequency band is in a wide bandwidth of broadcast frequency band, such as a digital terrestrial television broadcast in Japan, a UHF band analog television broadcast in Japan, or a US digital television broadcast. The high frequency wave glass antenna according to the present invention is particularly suited to receive horizontally polarized waves in the broadcast band for digital terrestrial television broadcasts in Japan.

The high frequency wave glass antenna according to the present invention can be disposed in or on a window glass sheet without hindering the sight therethrough or spoiling the appearance because of being small. The high frequency wave glass antenna according to the present invention is versatile since the antenna can be easily designed so as to comply with different types of automobiles irrespective of a change in the position where the antenna is fed and since the antenna can be disposed at any one of a windshield, a door window glass, a side window glass and a backlite because of having a limited installation area.

Now, the present invention will be described in detail, referring to preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.FIG. 1is a plan view of the high frequency wave glass antenna for an automobile100according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the explanation ofFIG. 1and the views showing the embodiments stated later, the directions are referred to, based on the directions on the accompanying drawings, unless otherwise specified. Each ofFIG. 1, andFIGS. 2 to 5andFIG. 12stated later is a view seen from a car-interior side or a car-exterior-side of the window glass sheet. In the following explanation, the embodiments will be described about a case where the antenna is suited for a digital terrestrial television broadcast in Japan, unless otherwise specified. With respect to the explanation of the shape of the antenna conductor, the shape that would be formed by an antenna conductor including a detour and a discontinuity formed by partly cutting a loop-shaped conductor when it is assumed that no discontinuity is formed and that both ends of the detour are connected, in other words, no detour is disposed in the antenna conductor will be called an “original loop shape”. For the sake of simplicity, the phrase of “loop-shaped antenna” is used instead of the phrase of “antenna conductor formed in an original loop shape” in some cases.

In the glass antenna100according to the embodiment shown inFIG. 1, reference1designates an antenna conductor, reference1fdesignates an upper side of a loop-shaped conductor, reference1edesignates a lower side of the loop-shaped conductor, reference1hdesignates a left side of the loop-shape conductor, reference1gdesignates a right side of the loop-shape conductor, reference2designates a detour, and reference4designates a feeding section. The glass antenna has a discontinuity formed by partly cutting the loop-shaped conductor by a certain length at the feeding section, although the discontinuity is not shown inFIG. 1.

In the antenna conductor1, the detour2, which is formed of a plurality of detour elements, is disposed in a portion of the original loop shape. The detour2shown inFIG. 1is disposed in the left side1hand is formed in a meandering shape with three angulated U-character shape of detour elements. The antenna conductor1according to the present invention has an improved antenna gain since the detour2is disposed in a position, which satisfies that the rate of the distance from a center P1of the discontinuity of the feeding portion4to a center P2of the detour2with respect to the length of an inner peripheral edge or an outer peripheral edge of the loop-shaped conductor (the peripheral length of an inner edge or an outer edge of the original loop shape of the loop-shaped conductor that is obtained when it is assumed that no detour2is disposed) ranges from 0.18 to 0.4 wherein the center P1is located on the assumed original loop shape and wherein the center P2is located on the original loop shape that is obtained when it is assumed that no detour2is disposed.

In the embodiment shown inFIG. 1, the antenna conductor1is formed in a square shape, and the upper side1fand the lower side1eare disposed so as to extend horizontally. When it is assumed that there is an imaginary transverse plane5which passes through the center of gravity of the original loop shape and is perpendicular to a glass sheet having the antenna conductor1therein or thereon and extending parallel to the lower side1e, and when it is assumed that there is an imaginary perpendicular plane6which passes through the center of gravity of the original loop shape and is perpendicular to the imaginary transverse plane5, the feeding section4(the center P1of the discontinuity) is located at a position where the upper side1fof the original loop shape intersects the imaginary perpendicular plane6. In other words, the feeding section4is located at the midpoint of the upper side1f. The center P2of the detour2is located at a position where the left side1hof the original loop shape intersects the imaginary transverse plane5. In other words, the center P2of the detour2is located at the midpoint of the left side1h. When the center P1of the discontinuity and the center P2of the detour2have a distance of L therebetween, when each of the upper side1fand the lower side1ehas a width of W11, and when each of the left side1hand the right side1ghas a height of H11, the rate of the distance from the center P1of the discontinuity to the center P2of the detour2with respect to the inner peripheral length of the original loop shape is represented by L/2(W11+H11). InFIG. 1, when the distance from the center P1of the discontinuity to a point where the upper side1fand the left side1hintersect each other is represented by L1, and when the distance from the center P2of the detour2to a point where the upper side1fand the left side1hintersect each other is represented by L2, the formulas of L=L1+L2=W11=H11and L/2(W11+H11)=0.25 are established.

In the glass antenna200shown inFIG. 2, the loop shape of the antenna conductor1is formed in a rectangular shape. In order that the glass antenna according to the present invention is configured to be easily mounted as a high frequency wave glass antenna for an automobile, it is preferred that the loop-shaped conductor be formed in a rectangular shape, a substantially rectangular shape, a parallelogram shape having long sides and short sides, a substantially parallelogram shape having long sides and short sides, a trapezoidal shape or a substantially trapezoidal shape.

In the present invention, when the loop-shaped conductor is formed in a quadrangular shape or a substantially quadrangular shape except for a rectangular shape, it is preferred in terms of improved antenna gain and ease in mounting that each of the four interior angles be set at 70 to 110 degrees, in particular 80 to 100 degrees.

When loop-shaped conductor is formed in a rectangular shape, a substantially rectangular shape, a parallelogram shape having long sides and short sides, a substantially parallelogram shape having long sides and short sides, a trapezoidal shape or a substantially trapezoidal shape, it is preferred that the antenna conductor be disposed in or on a glass sheet so that the absolute value of a smaller one of the angles included between a longitudinal direction of an inner peripheral edge of the longest side of the four sides of the loop shape (an arbitrary side in the case of a square shape) and a horizontal plane is set at 0 to 30 degrees. When the absolute value is within this range, it is possible to provide the antenna with an improved antenna gain in comparison with a case where the absolute value is outside of this range. Since digital terrestrial television broadcast waves are mainly formed of horizontally polarized waves, it is preferred in terms of improved antenna gain that the absolute value be set at a value within this range. This range is preferably 0 to 15 degrees.

In the embodiment shown inFIG. 2, it is preferred that the antenna conductor be disposed in or on a glass sheet so that the absolute value of a smaller one of the angles included between the lower side and the horizontal plane is set at 0 to 30 degrees.

In the present invention, it is preferred that the detour2be disposed in any one of the four sides of the loop-shaped conductor. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 2, the detour2is disposed in the upper side1fof the loop-shaped conductor. In this case, it is preferred that the discontinuity (not shown) of the feeding section4be disposed in the same side as the detour. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 2, the discontinuity is disposed in the upper side1fas in the detour. When the detour and the feeding section are disposed in the same side as each other, it is possible to provide the antenna with an improved antenna gain and a wider bandwidth in comparison with a case where the detour and the feeding section are disposed in different sides.

In the embodiment shown inFIG. 2, the center P1of the discontinuity of the feeding section4is located at a position where the upper side1fof the original loop shape intersects the imaginary perpendicular plane6. The detour2is located in the vicinity of a left edge of the upper side1fso as to be disposed in the upper side1fas in the feeding section4and is formed in a meandering shape with three angulated U-character shape of detour elements. When the center P1of the discontinuity and the center P2of the detour2have a distance of L therebetween, when each of the upper side1fand the lower side1ehas a width of W21, and when each of the left side1hand the right side1ghave a height of H21, the detour2is disposed in a position, which satisfies that the rate of the distance from the center P1of the discontinuity to the center P2of the detour2with respect to the length of the inner peripheral edge the original loop-shaped conductor L/2(W21+H21) ranges from 0.18 to 0.4.

The glass antenna300according to the embodiment shown inFIG. 3has the same shape as the glass antenna shown inFIG. 2except for the shape of the feeding section4shown inFIG. 2. InFIG. 3, the antenna includes a feeding section4formed of a discontinuity4cin the vicinity of a right end of the upper side1f, the discontinuity being formed by cutting the upper side1f, the feeding section being formed of feeding portions4aand4bdisposed at both ends of the discontinuity4. The discontinuity4cis located between the feeding portion4adisposed at an upper end of the right side1gand the feeding portion4bdisposed at a position close to the center of the upper side1f. The feeding portions4aand4bhave a greater width than the conductor width of the other sides of the antenna conductor. It is preferred in terms of excellent impedance matching and reduction in reflection loss that the feeding portions have a greater width.

In the present invention, when the loop-shaped conductor is formed in a rectangular shape, it is preferred that the detour be disposed at or in the vicinity of one end of a long side of the rectangular shape and that the feeding portions be disposed at or in the vicinity of the other end of the long side. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 3, the detour2is disposed in the vicinity of a left edge of the upper side1f, and the feeding portions4aand4bare disposed in the vicinity of the right edge of the upper side1f.

In the embodiment shown inFIG. 3, it is assumed that there is an imaginary transverse plane5which passes through the center of gravity of the loop-shaped conductor and is perpendicular to a glass sheet having the antenna conductor1therein or thereon and extending parallel to the lower side1eof the loop-shaped conductor1, and that there is an imaginary perpendicular plane6which passes through the center of gravity and is perpendicular to the imaginary transverse plane5. Both of the imaginary transverse plane5and the imaginary perpendicular plane6extend from in front of the front side of the drawing sheet showingFIG. 3toward behind the back side of the drawing sheet and are perpendicular to the drawing sheet.

In this embodiment, when it is assumed that the antenna conductor1is divided into four regions by the imaginary transverse plane5and the imaginary perpendicular plane6, that an upper region on an opposite side of the discontinuity4cis called a first region21, that an upper region on the same side as the discontinuity4cis called a second region22, that a lower region on the same side as the discontinuity4cis called a third region23, and that a lower region on the opposite side of the discontinuity4cis called a fourth region24, it is preferred that the detour2be disposed in the first region21.

The glass antenna400according to the embodiment shown inFIG. 4has the same shape as the glass antenna shown inFIG. 3except for the shape of the upper side1fand the lower side1eshown inFIG. 3. InFIG. 4, the glass antenna has an upper side1fforming a wide conductor part3and a lower side1ehaving an auxiliary conductor7.

In the present invention, when the loop shape of the antenna conductor is a rectangular shape, it is preferred that at least 70% of the entire length of at least one of the longer sides of the rectangular shape have a width of 2 to 20 mm, provided that if the detour is disposed in a portion of the longer side, said width is not applied to such a portion of the at least one long side with the detour. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 4, a portion of the upper side1fsandwiched between the feeding portion4band the detour2is configured to have a width H5set at a greater value than the conductor width of the other sides of the antenna conductor.

In the present invention, when the loop-shaped conductor is formed in a rectangular shape, at least one of the longer sides of the rectangular shape may have at least one linear auxiliary conductor in parallel or in substantially parallel therewith a distance of 2 to 20 mm therefrom, provided that if the detour is disposed in a portion of the at least one longer side, the distance is not applied to such a portion of the at least one longer side with the detour. InFIG. 4, the auxiliary conductor7is disposed in parallel with the lower side1eso as to be apart from the lower side by a distance of H3.

The dimensions of the respective parts of a glass antenna shown as an example inFIG. 4are shown below. The unit of the lengths is mm.

In a case where the loop-shaped conductor is formed in a rectangular shape in the present invention, when the center frequency of a desired broadcasting frequency band has a wavelength of λ0in air, when glass has a shortening coefficient of wavelength of k, when the formula of k=0.64 is established, and when the formula of λg=λ0·k is established, it is preferred in terms of improved antenna gain and ease in mounting that the long side of the original loop shape have an inner peripheral length of 0.36·λgto 0.60·λg. It should be noted that the center frequency of the digital terrestrial television broadcasting band (470 to 600 MHz) is 620 MHz, and that the value of λgin 620 MHz is 309.7 mm. When the range of 470 to 600 MHz currently used in the digital terrestrial television broadcasting band is set as a reception frequency band, the center frequency is 535 MHz. When the range of 470 to 710 MHz in the digital terrestrial television broadcasting band is set as a reception frequency band, the center frequency is 590 MHz. In consideration of these factors, specifically, it is preferred in terms of improved antenna gain that the long side of the original loop shape formed in a rectangular shape have an inner peripheral length of 90 to 245 mm, in particular 120 to 180 mm. In the glass antenna shown as an example inFIG. 4, the inner peripheral length is 150 mm.

When a radio wave for communication has a wavelength of λ0in air, when glass has a shortening coefficient of wavelength of k, and when the formula of λg=λ0·k is established, it is preferred in terms of improved antenna gain that the antenna conductor have an inner peripheral length of 0.79λgto 2.50λg, the inner peripheral length containing the detour elements and the discontinuity of the original loop shape. With regard to the phrase of “the inner peripheral length containing the detour elements and the discontinuity of the original loop shape”, the inner peripheral length means the length of the entire inner peripheral edge of the antenna conductor that is obtained when it is assumed that no discontinuity4is disposed (that is continuous so as to form the original loop shape without a discontinuity), and contains the length of the discontinuity along the original loop shape and the length of a portion of the conductor serving as the detour elements. When the antenna conductor includes a wide portion, such as the wide part3, an auxiliary conductor, such as the element7, or feeding portions, such as the elements4aand4b, the length of the inner peripheral edge of the wide portion and the length of the inner peripheral edge of the auxiliary conductor are contained in “the inner peripheral length”.

In consideration of the center frequency of the digital terrestrial television broadcasting band, specifically, it is preferred that the inner peripheral edge containing the detour and the discontinuity of the original loop shape have a length of 197 to 1,021 mm, in particular 300 to 650 mm.

It is preferred in terms of improved antenna gain that the relationship between a maximum vertical width H and a maximum transverse width W of the shape formed by the inner peripheral edge of the antenna conductor satisfy the formula of (W/H=1 to 9). For example, in a case where the loop-shaped conductor is formed in a rectangular shape, when the detour is disposed within the rectangular shape, the maximum vertical width H and the maximum transverse width W respectively correspond to the lengths of a long side and a short side of the maximum outer dimensions of the rectangular shape, and when the detour is disposed outside of the rectangular shape, the maximum vertical width H and the maximum transverse width W respectively correspond to the maximum outer dimensions of the rectangular shape containing the detour disposed outside of the rectangular shape. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 1, the maximum vertical width H corresponds to H11, and the maximum transverse width W corresponds to W11. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 4, the formula W/H=3.75 is established.

It is preferred that the discontinuity have a shortest spacing of 0.5 to 20 mm, in particular 1 to 10 mm. When the discontinuity has a shortest spacing of 0.5 mm or more, it is easier to fabricate the antenna in comparison with a case where the discontinuity has a shortest spacing of less than 0.5 mm. When the discontinuity has a shortest spacing of less than 20 mm, it is easier to obtain an improved antenna gain in comparison with a case where the discontinuity has a shortest spacing of greater than 20 mm. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 4, the discontinuity4cis set to have a spacing W2of 5 mm.

The detour may be formed of a single detour element or a plurality of detour elements. The detour elements have a maximum spacing of preferably 2.5 to 7.5 mm (more preferably 3.5 to 6.5 mm) in a direction along the original loop shape. The detour elements have a maximum distance of preferably 11 to 33 mm (more preferably 15.4 to 28.6 mm) remote from the original loop shape. When the detour is formed of a plurality of detour elements, the detour is preferably disposed to have a spacing of 2.5 to 7.5 mm between adjacent detour elements. It is preferred in terms of improved antenna gain that the number of the detour elements is 2 to 8. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 4, the detour elements are set to have a maximum spacing (a spacing) W5set at 5 mm and to have a maximum distance H2set at 22.5 mm. With respect to the number of the detour elements, when it is defined that elements2a,2band2cform a single detour element, that elements2e,2fand2gform a single detour element, and that elements2i,2jand2kform a single detour element, it is meant that three detour elements are disposed. The spacing of the detour elements in the embodiment shown inFIG. 4corresponds to each of the spacing between the elements2cand2eand the spacing between the elements2gand2i.

The detour of the embodiment shown inFIG. 4is formed in a meandering shape with angulated U-character shape of detour elements. However, the detour may be formed in a different shape. The detour elements may be formed in a U-character shape, a substantially U-character shape, a V-character shape, a substantially V-character shape, a semicircular shape or a substantially semicircular shape. Such a U-character shape, a V-character shape and a semicircular shape may be directed in any direction. In other words, in the case of, e.g. a meandering shape with angulated U-character shape of detour elements, the detour element does not necessarily need to horizontally project toward a right direction. The detour element may horizontally project toward a left direction, an upward direction or a downward direction. The projecting direction does not matter.

In the embodiment shown inFIG. 4, the detour is disposed to extend inwardly from the loop-shape conductor, which is preferred in terms of reduction in size. However, the detour does not necessarily need to extend inwardly from the loop-shape conductor. The detour may be disposed to extend outside of the loop-shape conductor. The detour may be formed in such a shape to have an effect similar to a reactance circuit. In other words, it is preferred in terms of excellent impedance matching and reduction in reflection loss that the detour be formed in such a shape to serve as a reactance circuit.

FIG. 5is a plan view (seen from a car-interior side or a car-exterior side) showing an embodiment, wherein the antenna conductor1shown as an example inFIG. 3is disposed in an upper left area of the backlite12aof a vehicle. InFIG. 5, reference15adesignates an upper edge of the vehicle aperture area for the backlite, and reference15ddesignates a left edge of the vehicle aperture area. The edge of the vehicle aperture area is a peripheral edge of an opening of the vehicle body, into which a window glass sheet is fitted, and which serves as vehicle grounding and is formed of a conductive material, such as metal.

When the antenna conductor is disposed in an upper area of a window glass sheet, and when the maximum distance W1between an upper edge15aof a vehicle aperture area for the window glass sheet and the outer edge of the entire upper side of the original loop shape confronting the upper edge of the vehicle aperture area is 0.36λgto 0.60λg, it is preferred in terms of improved antenna gain that the antenna conductor be disposed so that the distance d3between the upper edge15aand the outer edge of the entire upper side of the antenna conductor is an average value of 0.032·λgor more, in particular, 0.048·λgor more.

When the antenna conductor is disposed in an upper area of a window glass sheet in order to receive a terrestrial digital broadcast wave, and when the maximum distance W1between an upper edge15aof a vehicle aperture area for the window glass sheet and the outer edge of the entire upper side of the original loop shape confronting the upper edge of the vehicle aperture area is 90 to 245 mm, it is preferred in terms of improved antenna gain that the antenna conductor be disposed so that the distance d3between the upper edge15aand the outer edge of the entire upper side of the antenna conductor is an average value of 10 mm or more, in particular, 15 mm or more.

It is preferred in terms of securing the sight through a window glass sheet that the shortest distance between the upper edge15aand a portion of the outer peripheral edge of the antenna conductor farthest from the upper edge15abe 200 mm or less, in particular, 150 mm or less.

FIG. 5(see from a car-interior side or a car-exterior side) shows the upper left area of the rear window glass sheet12ain an embodiment wherein the antenna conductor1is disposed in or on the rear window glass sheet12a. The rear window glass sheet12aincludes a plurality of heating wires and a plurality of bus-bars (only a single bus-bar being shown inFIG. 5) for energizing the plurality of heating wires, and the plurality of heating wires and the plurality of bus-bars form a defogger. InFIG. 5, reference8adesignates the heating wire at the highest position, reference8bdesignates the heating wire at the second highest position, reference9bdesignates a bus-bar, and reference d5designates the distance between the heating wire at the highest position and the entire lower side of the antenna conductor confronting the heating wire at the highest position.

The plural heating wires extend in a horizontal direction, in a substantially horizontal direction, in a direction along the upper edge of the backlite12aor in a direction along the lower edge of the backlite12a. The antenna conductor is disposed in an upper marginal area of the backlite12aexcept for an area where the defogger is disposed. It is preferred in terms of improved antenna gain that the maximum distance between the heating wire at the highest position and the outer edge of the entire lower side of the original loop shape of the antenna conductor confronting the heating wire at the highest position be 0.36 λgto 0.60 λg, and that the antenna conductor be disposed so that the distance between the heating wire at the highest position and the entire lower side of the antenna conductor confronting the heating wire at the highest position be an average value of 0.0097·λgor more, in particular, 0.016·λgor more.

In consideration of a space required for disposing the antenna conductor and reduction in the space, it is preferred that the distance between the upper edge15aof a vehicle aperture area and the heating wire8aat the highest position be 100 to 200 mm.

FIG. 12shows an example where the antenna conductor is disposed in or on a window glass sheet12. The antenna conductor is formed of four antenna conductors, which are disposed in an upper left area, an upper right area, a lower left area and a lower right area of the window glass sheet12. In the example shown inFIG. 12, when the window glass sheet12forms a backlite, the window glass sheet includes a defogger (not shown) in a central area of the window glass sheet. However, the four antenna conductors do not necessarily need to be disposed in the four areas of the window glass sheet. The antenna conductor may be disposed in at least one of the four areas. The antenna conductor may be disposed in a central upper area or a central lower area, not in an upper left area, an upper right area, a lower left area and a lower right area.

In the present invention, when an antenna conductor is disposed in an upper left area of the window glass sheet12, this antenna conductor may be disposed in the same way as the antenna conductor shown in an upper right area inFIG. 12. When an antenna conductor is disposed in an upper right area of the window glass sheet12, this antenna conductor may be disposed in the same way as the antenna conductor shown in an upper left area inFIG. 12. This is also applicable to a case where an antenna conductor is disposed in the lower right or left area. In the present invention, when the rate of the length of a portion of a loop-shaped conductor from the feeding section to the detour with respect to the entire peripheral length of the loop-shaped conductor is set 0.18 to 0.4, it is possible to obtain an improved antenna gain. Thus, the present invention can provide a versatile glass antenna, which is capable of coping with any change in the position of the feeding section according to vehicle types, irrespective of the position of the feeding section.

The provision of a plurality of antenna conductors as described above enables diversity reception, favorably obtaining an improved reception characteristic.

The antenna conductor shown in each ofFIGS. 1 to 4is not accompanied by an auxiliary antenna conductor. However, the antenna conductor according to the present invention may be accompanied by an auxiliary antenna conductor, such as an antenna conductor formed in a substantially T-character shape, an antenna conductor formed in a substantially L-character shape or a loop-shaped antenna conductor, through or without a connection conductor for the purpose of, e.g. impedance matching, phase adjustment or directional adjustment.

When a coaxial cable is used as a feeder, the center conductor and the outer conductor of the coaxial cable are connected to both ends or in the vicinity of both ends of the discontinuity4c. The coaxial cable is connected to a receiver. The coaxial cable may be directly connected, by, e.g. soldering, to or indirectly connected, through a connector, to both ends or in the vicinity of both ends of the discontinuity4c.

The antenna conductor may be disposed by forming a plastic film with a conductive layer disposed therein or thereon, on the car-interior side or the car-exterior side of a backlite. The antenna conductor may be disposed by forming a flexible circuit board with a conductive layer disposed therein or thereon, on the car-interior side or the car-exterior side of a backlite.

The high frequency wave glass antenna for an automobile according to the present invention may be disposed in or on any vehicle glass sheet, such as a windshield, a door glass, a side window or a backlite. There is no limitation to the window glass sheet that the glass antenna according to the present invention is disposed in or on.

It is preferred in terms of improved antenna gain that the glass antenna according to the present invention be mounted to an automobile at an angle of 18 to 90 degrees, in particular 24 to 90 degrees with respect to a horizontal direction.

The antenna conductor may be disposed by printing paste containing conductive metal, such as silver paste, on the car-interior side of a window glass sheet and baking the printed paste. However, the antenna conductor is not necessarily disposed by this forming method. The antenna conductor may be disposed by bonding a linear member or foil member on the car-interior side or the car-exterior side of a glass sheet or in a glass sheet by, e.g. an adhesive, the linear member or foil member being formed of a conductive substance, such as copper.

In the present invention, a light-shielding coat may be disposed on a window glass sheet so that the antenna conductor is partly or entirely disposed on the light-shielding coat. The shielding coat may be formed of a ceramic coat, such as a black ceramic coat. In this case, the window glass sheet has an excellent appearance since the light-shielding coat shields portions of the antenna conductor disposed on the light-shielding coat when the window glass sheet is seen from a car-exterior side. In the case of the embodiment shown inFIG. 4, the feeding section and at least a portion of the detour is preferably disposed on such a light-shielding coat in terms of appearance since only a linear thin portion of the conductor is visible from a car-exterior side.

Now, the present invention will be described in reference to Examples. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to these Examples, and that variations or modifications are included in the present invention as long as the variations and modifications do not depart from the spirit of the present invention. The Examples will be described in detail in reference to the accompanying drawings.

It was assumed that a square glass substrate formed a window glass sheet. The high frequency wave glass antenna for an automobile according to the present invention was formed by disposing the antenna conductor1shown inFIG. 1at a central portion of the glass substrate on a single side of the glass substrate, which was supposed to be positioned on a car-interior side. It was also assumed that there was neither car body nor defogger.

Values of VSWRs (voltage standing wave ratio) were found by performing numerical calculations by use of electromagnetic simulation based on the FDTD method (Finite-Difference Time-Domain method) for every 10 MHz in a frequency band of 400 to 700 MHz with the position of the detour2disposed on the square loop shaped conductor being changed. The position of the detour2was changed by modifying the length L (=L1+L2) from the center P1of the discontinuity of the feeding section4to the center P2(on the peripheral portion) of the detour2. In other words, the distance from the center of the feeding section4and the center of the detour2was changed by shifting the detour2along the outer configuration of the loop shaped conductor. The constants, such as the thickness of the glass substrate and the dimensions of the respective parts of the planar antenna were as follows:

Dimension of glass substrate300 × 300mmThickness of glass substrate3.10mmDielectric constant of glass substrate7.0H11, W1172mmW1238mmH155mmH1610mmConductor width of antenna conductor 10.8mmSpacing of feeding section 45mm(distance between electrodes 4a and 4b)Entire peripheral length of loop516mm(containing detour elements)

FIG. 6is a characteristic graph of the antenna conductor shown inFIG. 1, wherein the horizontal axis represents a value (=L/L0) obtained by dividing the distance L from the center P1of the discontinuity of the feeding section4to the center P2of the detour2by the entire peripheral length L0(=2×(H11+W11)) of the loop that is obtained when it is assumed that no detour is disposed, and the vertical axis represents a rate that the formula of VSWR≦5.0 is established in a band range of 400 to 700 MHz. In this graph, the greater the rate is, the wider bandwidth the antenna is effective in.

As shown inFIG. 6, the rate that the formula of VSWR≦5.0 is established has a maximum calculated value when the detour is disposed at such a position that L/L0is 0.19 or 0.81. This means that when the detour is disposed at such a position, it is possible to obtain an excellent antenna characteristic effective in a wide bandwidth in the case of the antenna conductor being formed in the shape shown inFIG. 1.

The high frequency wave glass antenna for an automobile according to the present invention was formed by disposing the antenna conductor1shown inFIG. 2on a glass substrate as in Example 1, and values of VSWR were found by carrying out numerical calculations in accordance electromagnetic field simulation under the same conditions as Example 1. The constants, such as the thickness of the glass substrate, and the dimensions of the respective parts of the planar antenna were as follows:

H2140 mmW21150 mmH2222.5 mmEntire peripheral length of loop515 mm(containing detour elements)
The unspecified constants were the same as Example 1.

FIG. 7is a characteristic graph of the antenna conductor shown inFIG. 2, wherein the horizontal axis represents a value (=L/L0) obtained by dividing the distance L from the center P1of the discontinuity of the feeding section4to the center P2of the detour2by the entire peripheral length L0(=2×(H21+W21)) of the loop that is obtained when it is assumed that no detour is disposed, and the vertical axis represents a rate that the formula of VSWR≦5.0 is established in a band range of 400 to 700 MHz.

As shown inFIG. 7, the rate that the formula of VSWR≦5.0 is established has a maximum calculated value when the detour is disposed at such a position that L/L0is 0.25 or 0.75. This means that when the detour is disposed at such a position, it is possible to obtain an excellent antenna characteristic effective in a wide bandwidth in the case of the antenna conductor being formed in the shape shown inFIG. 2.

The high frequency wave glass antenna for an automobile according to the present invention was formed by disposing the antenna conductor1shown inFIG. 3on a glass substrate as in Example 1, and values of VSWR were found by carrying out numerical calculations in accordance with electromagnetic field simulation under the same conditions as Example 1. The constants, such as the thickness of the glass substrate, and the dimensions of the respective parts of the planar antenna were as follows:

The unspecified constants were the same as Examples 1 and 2.

FIG. 8is a characteristic graph of the antenna conductor shown inFIG. 3, wherein the horizontal axis represents a value (=L/L0) obtained by dividing the distance L from the center P1of the discontinuity of the feeding portions4aand4b(as a point on the imaginary peripheral portion of the loop) to the center P2of the detour2by the entire peripheral length L0(=2×(H21+W21)) of the loop that is obtained when it is assumed that no detour is disposed, and the vertical axis represents a rate that the formula of VSWR≦5.0 is established in a band range of 400 to 700 MHz.

As shown inFIG. 8, the rate that the formula of VSWR≦5.0 is established has a maximum calculated value when the detour is disposed at such a position that L/L0is 0.29 or in the vicinity of 0.67. This means that when the detour is disposed at such a position, it is possible to obtain an excellent antenna characteristic effective in a wide bandwidth in the case of the antenna conductor being formed in the shape shown inFIG. 3.

The high frequency wave glass antenna for an automobile according to the present invention was formed by disposing the antenna conductor1shown inFIG. 4on the backlite of an actual automobile, and values of VSWR and antenna gain values were measured with the position of the detour being changed.FIG. 5is a plan view showing this Example, wherein the antenna conductor shown inFIG. 4was disposed on the backlite12aof the automobile. The antenna conductor was disposed in an upper left area (seen from the car-interior side or a driver's seat in an automobile with a right-hand steering wheel) of the backlite12awith a defogger and above the defogger, and the backlite12ais inclined at an angle of 56 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane.

The antenna gain was measured at intervals of 1 degree by emitting a radio wave toward the automobile and rotating the automobile through 360 degrees. The radio wave was formed of a horizontally polarized wave, and its frequencies were changed at every 3 MHz in a frequency range of 470 to 770 MHz. The measurement was made in such a state that the angle of elevation between a position to emit the radio wave and the antenna conductor was set in a horizontal direction (in a direction having an angle of elevation of 0 degree in a case where the plane parallel with the ground is at an angle of elevation of 0 degree and the zenith direction is at an angle of elevation of 90 degrees). The antenna gain was represented by an average value, which was an average value of the average antenna gain measured by rotating the automobile through 360 degrees (at intervals of 1 is degree) in the entire frequency range of 470 to 770 MHz (at intervals of 3 MHz). The reference antenna was a half-wave dipole antenna. The constants, such as the thickness of the glass substrate, and the dimensions of the respective parts of the planar antenna were as follows:

The unspecified constants were the same as Example 3.

FIG. 9is a graph showing actual data ofFIG. 8measured under the above-mentioned conditions.FIG. 10shows actual data of average values of the antenna gain measured under the above-mentioned conditions, wherein the horizontal axis represents L/L0as inFIG. 9.

As shown inFIG. 9, the rate that the formula of VSWR≦5.0 was established had a maximum value among the measured values when the detour was disposed at such a position that L/L0was 0.39. In other words, it is revealed that when the detour is disposed at such a position that L/L0ranges from 0.18 to 0.4, it is possible to obtain an excellent antenna characteristic effective in a wide broadband even in an actual vehicle. Also, as shown inFIG. 10, the antenna gain had a maximum value among the measured values when the detour was disposed at such a position that L/L0was 0.39. In other words, it is revealed that when the detour is disposed at a such position that L/L0ranges 0.18 to 0.4, it is possible to obtain an excellent antenna gain even in an actual vehicle.

Antenna conductors, which had different combinations of the presence and absence of the wide part3and the auxiliary conductor7shown inFIG. 4, were mounted to the backlite of an actual automobile as in Example 4, and the antenna gain was measured under the same conditions as Example 4. The relationship between the antenna gain and frequencies was measured for four patterns of the presence and absence of the wide part3and the auxiliary conductor7with respect to each of the antenna conductors mounted to the rear window glass sheet.

FIG. 11is a graph showing the relationship between the antenna gains and the frequencies in a band range of 470 to 770 MHz.FIG. 11reveals that when the antenna conductor1has the wide part3disposed in an upper side1fthereof, it is possible to improve the antenna gain in a high frequency range, and that when the antenna conductor1has the auxiliary conductor7disposed in a lower side1ethereof, it is possible to improve the antenna gain in a low frequency range.

In accordance with the glass antenna of the present invention described above, it is possible not only to reduce the size of the antenna but also to obtain an antenna characteristic effective in a wide bandwidth by the provision of the detour. In other words, it is possible to obtain a required antenna characteristic by adjusting the position of the detour in consideration of the results shown inFIG. 6toFIG. 10. It is also possible to finely adjust the antenna characteristic by the addition of a wide part3or an auxiliary conductor7.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described examples, and that modifications and substitute may be made in the above-described examples without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-093467 filed on Mar. 31, 2008 including specification, claims, drawings and summary are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.