Abstract:
The invention relates to an integration device for integrating a cellular telephone in a vehicle, whereby the integration device comprises a receiving compartment, a coupler antenna for the cellular telephone network attached to the receiving compartment and electronics which can be connected to an external antenna. Here, the integration device comprises multiple coupler antennae connected to the electronics, whereby a communications connection is made via the cellular telephone network such that the electronics of the integration device for the active cellular telephone inserted in the receiving compartment, regardless of the type of the cellular telephone inserted and regardless of the position of the cellular telephone inserted in the receiving compartment, selects and uses for the communication that coupler antenna with the highest reception quality in the communication with the cellular telephone located in the receiving compartment.

Description:
This application claims the benefit under 35 USC §119(a)-(d) of German Application No. 10 2012 007 922.2 filed Apr. 24, 2012, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to an integration device and a method for the manufacture of a shell for a cradle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     An integration device for cellular telephones is already known from DE 10 2008 005 589 A1. These integration devices are equipped with at least one antenna for sending and receiving on cellular telephone frequencies, whereby the integration device comprises a receiving compartment, a coupler antenna for the cellular telephone network attached to the receiving compartment and electronics combinable with an external antenna. An integration device of this type is only suitable for a certain type of cellular telephone. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the invention is to propose an integration device which is suitable for connecting different cellular telephones optimally. Furthermore, it is the object of the invention, both to charge different cellular telephones inductively and to connect their cellular network antennae. Finally, it is the object of the invention to propose a method of manufacturing a shell and/or a base for a cradle. 
     The integration device according to the present invention comprises multiple coupler antennae connected to the electronics, whereby these coupler antennae are suitable for connecting the electronics to at least one antenna of the cellular telephone and whereby one communication link via the cellular telephone network is arranged such that the electronics of the integration device for the active cellular telephone inserted in the receiving compartment, regardless of the type of the cellular telephone inserted and regardless of the position of the cellular telephone inserted in the receiving compartment, selects and uses for the communication that coupler antenna with the highest reception quality in the communication with the cellular telephone located in the receiving compartment. As a result, any cellular telephone with dimensions suitable for accommodation in the receiving compartment can be integrated into a vehicle using one and the same integration device. The core of the invention is the selective use of one coupler antenna of a variety of coupler antennae in order to achieve an optimal connection between the cellular telephone and the integration device, regardless of the type and the position of the cellular telephone. In particular, such an integration device has the advantage that new types of cellular telephones or types of cellular telephones not taken into consideration in the development of the integration device can also be optimally connected since the integration device selects the coupler antenna to be used regardless of the respective situation and hence always achieves the best possible connection result. 
     The present invention allows the integration device to be fitted with a cradle in which the receiving compartment is formed, whereby the cradle comprises a base and a shell. The base and the shell delimit the receiving compartment, whereby the shell comprises at least two side panels, whereby at least one side panel of the shell and/or the base contains multiple coupler antennae and whereby the receiving compartment is dimensioned such that the base has a surface dimensioned such that this is suitable for storing or attaching cellular telephones of various sizes. With such a design for the periphery of the receiving compartment, the integration device can be developed for a large range of cellular telephone types. 
     In accordance with the present invention, arranging multiple coupler antennae is allowed for in each of at least two, in particular, adjacent, side panels of the shell. As a result, the probability of having a suitable coupler antenna available for effectively any type of cellular telephone is further increased. 
     In one version according to the invention, an optimal coupling environment is created, in which multiple coupler antennae are arranged in each of the side panels of a surrounding shell and in which one of the side panels is formed particularly lower than the other side panels, whereby the option of inserting and removing the cellular telephone parallel to the base is created by optionally lowering one of the side panels, as can be an advantage if the cradle is obstructed by a vertical or slanted orientation of the base. 
     In addition, the present invention allows the integration device to be fitted with at least one charging coil and, in particular, no fewer than two charging coils, whereby the charging coil or the charging coils are integrated into the base of the cradle and whereby a contact surface on the base, where the base and the cellular telephone inserted in the receiving compartment are in contact, forms a charging level. As a result, the energy supply for the cellular telephone inserted is also ensured if this is a suitable for an inductive charge. By arranging the coupler antennae in the shell in accordance with the invention, space for arranging the charging coils is created in the base of the cradle, such that, even where the dimensions of the cradle are comparatively small, there will be space for both the coupler antennae and the charging coil or the charging coils without mutual interference. 
     In terms of the arrangement of the coupler antennae, the invention allows the coupler antennae to be arranged only in an upper section of the shell located above the charging level and directly adjoining the receiving compartment or the coupler antennae to be arranged only in a lower section of the shell forming an extension of the upper section and running beneath the charging level or for each coupler antenna to extend continuously across an upper section of the shell located above the charging level and directly adjoining the receiving compartment and running across a lower section of the shell forming an extension of the upper section and beneath the charging level or for a first part of each coupler antenna to extend continuously across an upper section of the shell located above the charging level and directly adjoining the receiving compartment, and running across a lower section of the shell forming an extension of the upper section and beneath the charging level and for a second part of the coupler antennae to be arranged only in a lower section of the shell forming an extension of the upper section and running beneath the charging level. As a result, a variety of coupler antennae, each adapted to the design of the cradle, can be arranged in suitable positions for connection. 
     The invention also allows at least one part of the coupler antennae and, in particular, all coupler antennae, to be arranged at an angle of between 70° and 130° and, in particular, perpendicularly to the charging level. As a result, it is possible for the coupler antennae to extend above and below the charging level. 
     According to the invention, the receiving compartment or the cradle forming the receiving compartment is integrated into the console of a vehicle such that this forms a tray in which the charging level is located approximately horizontally in the space or the receiving compartment or the cradle forming the receiving compartment is integrated into the console of a vehicle such that this forms a shaft in which the charging level is positioned vertically or at an angle in the space. Thanks to the usability of the integration device according to the invention for both horizontal and vertical installation circumstances, the integration device fulfills the requirements of the automobile industry optimally. 
     Finally, the present invention allows the coupler antenna to be formed as a planar coupler antenna, arranged either on an interior surface of the shell or inside the shell or on an exterior surface of the shell. By forming the coupler antennae in this fashion, the shell of the cradle itself acts as the support for the coupler antennae and, as a result, the integration device can be manufactured from light and easily recyclable components. 
     One method for manufacturing a shell or a base for a receiving compartment of a cradle for a cellular telephone, in particular, provided for a cradle for an integration device for a cellular telephone allows the coupler antennae and/or the charging coils to be arranged on the shell and/or on the base of the cradle such that the shell and/or the base is laser-processed for this purpose in the area of the coupler antennae and/or charging coils provided, whereby the shell and/or the base is composed of a synthetic material suitable for a laser structuring process, and a chemical metallization of the processed areas is performed in a subsequent step and finally, the shell and/or the base of the cradle undergoes a surface finishing process. Using such a method, a cradle can be produced in an environmentally friendly fashion, whereby, at the same time, the requirements of a specific design can be easily fulfilled. 
     The present invention particularly provides for performing laser-processing on the surface of the cradle in contact with the cellular telephone inserted into the cradle. As a result, the coupler antennae and/or charging coils present a minimal clearance to the inserted cellular telephone. 
     For the purposes of the present invention, a cellular telephone is understood to mean any handheld electronic device equipped with at least one antenna for sending and receiving on cellular telephone frequencies. 
     For the purposes of the present invention, a charging coil is understood to mean any antenna structure suitable for transferring electric energy to a mobile device by induction. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further details of the invention will be described in the drawings by reference to schematically represented embodiments. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a schematically depicted cradle of an integration device according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of an integration device according to the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a section through a console of a vehicle, into which the cradle of the integration device depicted in  FIG. 2  has been inserted; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a third design variant of a cradle of an integration device according to the invention; 
         FIGS. 5 to 7  are schematic plan views of a corner section of the cradle depicted in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a fourth design variant of a cradle of an integration device according to the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 9 and 10  are further representations of  FIG. 8  with the coupler antennae partially masked out. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a schematic representation of a cradle  2  for an integration device  1  according to the invention is depicted. The integration device  1  includes the cradle  2 , which encloses or defines a receiving compartment  3 . The receiving compartment  3 , provided for seating one of a large number of different types of cellular telephones (not shown) is delimited by a base  4  and a surrounding shell  5 . Here, the surrounding shell  5  comprises four side panels  6 ,  7 ,  8  and  9 . Each of the four side panels  6  to  8  of the shell  5  contains multiple coupler antennae K and  6   a  to  6   e ,  7   a  to  7   c ,  8   a  to  8   e  and  9   a  to  9   c . Each of these coupler antennae is designed as a planar antenna. Twelve charging coils  10  are integrated into the base, of which, however, only six charging coils  10   a  to  10   f  in the base  4  are visible in  FIG. 1 . A contact surface  11  in the base  4  forms a charging level  12 , on which preferably the rear side of a cellular telephone can be placed. The base  4  has a surface F 4 , dimensioned such that this is suitable for storing cellular telephones of various sizes. In accordance with one variant of the example of the realization according to the invention as depicted in  FIG. 1 , the shell includes the charging coils and the base includes the coupler antennae. 
       FIG. 2  depicts a plan view of a design variant of an integration device according to the invention  101 . For simplification, the charging coils in a base  104  of a cradle  102  of the integration unit  101  have not been depicted. Multiple coupler antennae K are arranged in each side panel  106  to  109  of a surrounding shell  105  defining a receiving compartment  103 . The coupler antennae K are connected to the electronics  114  for the integration device  101  via an antenna cable  113 , whereby, to maintain clarity, one part of the coupler antennae is labeled “K” and one part of the antenna cable is labelled “ 113 ” in  FIG. 2 . An external antenna  116  of a vehicle  117  is connected to the electronics  114  of the integration device  101  via another antenna cable  115 . A cellular telephone  118  is located on a charging level  112  in the receiving compartment  103 . The cellular telephone  118  has been placed in a random position P 118  with its rear side opposite the display  119  on the base  104  within the receiving compartment  103  defined by the shell  105 . In a first variant, the cellular telephone  118  incorporates four antennae  120   a  to  120   d , suitable for sending and receiving on cellular telephone frequencies. In accordance with a second variant, the cellular telephone  118  only incorporates the antenna  120   c  as a suitable antenna for sending and receiving on cellular telephone frequencies. 
     In the first variant, the antenna  120   a  of the cellular telephone  118  is connected to the coupler antenna  106   b  of the integration device  101 , since the antenna  120   a  is positioned next to one of the coupler antennae K and hence, with this antenna pairing, a good signal strength is obtained. 
     In the second variant, the connection of the antenna  120   c  of the cellular telephone  118  with the coupler antenna  108   a  of the integration device  101  depends, for example, on the quality emitted by the electronics  114 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , a section through a console  121  of the vehicle  117  is depicted, into which the cradle  102  of the integration device  101  depicted in  FIG. 2  has been inserted. The receiving compartment  103  in the installation circumstances depicted has been arranged such that its charging level  112  is positioned horizontally in the space. Hence, the cradle  102  forms a tray  122  for the cellular telephone not depicted here. 
     In  FIG. 4 , a perspective view of a third design variant of a cradle  202  of an integration device  201  according to the invention is depicted. In contrast to the previously depicted design variants, a base  204  for the cradle  202  has been installed vertically in the space, since the cradle  202  has been provided for a vertical installation in a console (not depicted). Also for this reason, a shell  205  comprises only three adjoining side panels  206 ,  207  and  208 . A cellular telephone (not depicted) can be inserted into a receiving compartment  203  in the direction of the arrow y′ through an opening  223  created by the omitted fourth side panel if the cradle  202  is integrated in a console of a vehicle, as indicated by the dashed lines. By aligning the base  204  in this manner, the receiving compartment  203  forms a shaft  224  for the cellular telephone. In such installation circumstances, the invention also allows the base  204  to be arranged opposite a cover such that a tubular, accessible through the opening  223 , is formed. In  FIG. 4 , coupler antennae K are indicated schematically. These are arranged on the three side panels  206 ,  207  and  208 , whereby each side panel has three coupler antennae. The coupler antennae for the third design variant, as well as the coupler antennae of the first design variant, are depicted and described as in the second design variant, connected to the electronics of the integration device, which, in turn is connected to an external antenna. 
     Using schematic plan views of a corner section of the cradle  202  depicted in  FIG. 4 , in  FIGS. 5 to 7 , the coupler antenna K is depicted, integrated in the shell  205  or in the side panel  206  in accordance with a first design variant (see  FIG. 5 ). By such an arrangement, the coupler antennae K are particularly well protected from damage. In accordance with a second design variant depicted in  FIG. 6 , the coupler antenna K is depicted, arranged on an internal surface  225 . As a result, the coupler antennae K achieve the maximal proximity to a cellular telephone located in the receiving compartment  203 . In accordance with a third design variant depicted in  FIG. 7 , the coupler antenna K is depicted, arranged on an external surface  226 . Using this arrangement, the coupler antennae K are also well protected from environmental influences. 
     In  FIG. 8 , a perspective view of a fourth design variant of a cradle  302  of an integration device  301  is depicted. A receiving compartment  303  of the cradle  302  is delimited by a base  304  and a shell  305 . The shell  305  comprises four side panels  306  to  309 , whereby the side panel  309  is formed lower than the other side panels  306  to  308 . Each side panel  306  to  309  incorporates multiple coupler antennae K. In  FIG. 8 , concealed edges are also depicted by dashed lines. Hence, it can be seen that the coupler antennae K of the side panels  306  to  308  each extend continuously via an upper section  305   a  of the shell  305  and a lower section  305   b  of the shell  305 . Here, the upper section  305   a  of the shell  305  is located above a charging level  312  and the lower section  305   b  of the shell  305  is located beneath a charging level  312 . The upper section  305   a  of the shell  305  is directly adjacent to the receiving compartment  303 . In the area of the side panel  309 , the shell  305  is designed such that this only has a lower area  305   b  and its coupler antennae K only extend across this area  305   b . Hence, a first part or first component of the coupler antennae K, namely the coupler antennae K of the side panels  306  to  308 , extends continuously from an upper section  305   a  to a lower section  305   b  of the shell  305 . A second part or a second component of the coupler antennae K, namely the coupler antennae K of the side panel  309 , only extends over a lower section  305   b  of the shell  305 . The coupler antennae are positioned at an angle α=90° to the base  304  or the charging level  312  respectively. A cavity  327  is formed underneath the base  304 , in which the wave emitted from and received by one of the coupler antennae K can propagate via the base  304  from and to the cellular telephone (not depicted) located on the base  304 . To facilitate the overview, the cradle  302  depicted in  FIG. 8  is depicted again in  FIG. 9 , whereby the coupler antennae K of the side panels  306  and  308  have been masked out. To facilitate the overview further, the cradle  302  depicted in  FIG. 8  is depicted again in  FIG. 10 , whereby the coupler antennae K of the side panels  307  and  309  have been masked out. It can still be seen in  FIG. 8 ,  FIGS. 9 and 10  that the coupler antennae K of one side panel  306  or  307  or  308  or  309  are rotated by 180° relative to one another. As a result, the connection characteristics of the integration device  301  in terms of the cellular telephone connection are further improved, such that the integration device  301 , regardless of the position and the type of the cellular telephone inserted, is suitable for establishing a usable connection via one of its coupler antennae K and so a cellular telephone can be operated successfully via the external antenna connected to its electronics. 
     The invention is not limited to the embodiments depicted or described. Rather, it incorporates further embodiments of the invention within the context of the claims. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 
     
         
           1  Integration device 
           2  Cradle 
           3  Receiving compartment 
           4  Base 
           5  Shell 
           6 - 9  Side panel 
           6   a - 6   e  Coupler antenna 
           7   a - 7   c  Coupler antenna 
           8   a - 8   e  Coupler antenna 
           9   a - 9   c  Coupler antenna 
           10  Charging coil 
           10   a - 10   f  Charging coil 
           11  Contact surface 
           12  Charging level 
           101  Integration device 
           102  Cradle 
           103  Receiving compartment 
           104  Base 
           105  Shell 
           106 - 109  Side panel 
           106   b  Coupler antenna 
           108   a  Coupler antenna 
           112  Charging level 
           113  Antenna cable between K and  114   
           114  Electronics 
           115  Antenna cable between  115  and  116   
           116  External antenna 
           117  Vehicle 
           118  Cellular telephone 
           119  Display for  118   
           120   a - 120   d  Antenna for  118   
           121  Console for  117   
           122  Tray for  118   
           201  Integration device 
           202  Cradle 
           203  Receiving compartment 
           204  Base 
           205  Shell 
           206 - 208  Side panel 
           223  Opening for  202   
           224  Shaft 
           225  Internal surface of  205  or  206   
           226  External surface of  205  or  206   
           301   301  Integration device 
           302   302  Cradle 
           303   303  Receiving compartment 
           304  Base  304   
           305  Shell  305   
           305   a  Upper section  305   a    
           305   b  Lower section  305   b    
           306 - 309  Side panels  306  to  309   
           312  Charging level  312   
           327  Cavity  327   
         α Angle between K and  312   
         y′ Direction of arrow y′ 
         F 4  Surface of  4   
         K Coupler antennae K 
         P 118  Position P 118