Patent Publication Number: US-2023137538-A1

Title: Antenna system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The application relates to an antenna system. 
     Due to new services and increasing demands on the quality and data rate of wireless services, the number of antennas to be installed in vehicles is constantly increasing. In contrast, the antenna should be installed as hidden as possible for design reasons. Typical installation spaces are next to the roof for a roof antenna, a bumper for a telephone antenna, a spoiler or a pane, with an antenna being designed as a structure printed onto the pane. The advantage of the roof antenna is that it has undisturbed reception around the vehicle for using Bluetooth, a telephone, and a remote-controlled parking heater. Also, it has access to the sky to use satellite services. However, a roof antenna is visible to the customer and has a mostly flat structure in the front region in terms of appearance. 
     BACKGROUND 
     DE 11 2015 003 498 T5 shows a vehicle antenna device. 
     Fastening a roof antenna by inserting a tool through a passage in an antenna rod receiving part of a cover is known from EP 1 760 826 B1. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,091,912 B2 shows a vehicle antenna with improved screening. 
     Another vehicle antenna is known from DE 10 2007 054 141 B4. 
     EP 3 561 952 A1 describes an antenna for a vehicle having an insulating antenna housing and a plastic base to which the antenna housing is fastened. 
     US 2017/0062914 A1 describes an antenna device for a vehicle having a base plate made of resin. 
     Another antenna device is known from US 2019/0006744 A1. 
     A roof antenna and a method for fastening a roof antenna to a vehicle body are known from DE 10 2012 202 677 A1. In this case, the roof antenna is installed on an opening in the vehicle body and is held in a pre-installation position on the vehicle body. Furthermore, the roof antenna is fixed in its final installation position to the vehicle body by means of a clamping plate. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic illustration of an antenna assembly known from the prior art. 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic illustration of a first embodiment of the antenna assembly according to the application. 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic illustration of a second embodiment of the antenna assembly according to the application 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present application is concerned with making an antenna for a vehicle, compact. 
     This object is achieved by an antenna system having the features of the independent claims. Embodiments of the antenna system can be derived from the dependent claims and the description. 
     The antenna system according to the application is provided for a roof as the outer wall of a vehicle and has an antenna assembly which has a housing, a base body made of an electrically insulating or non-conductive material, and a support plate. In this case, electronic components for a plurality of antenna modules are arranged on the electrically insulating base body, wherein the antenna assembly has fastening elements, wherein the support plate is fastened to the roof by means of the fastening elements within the roof from an inner side of the roof. 
     In accordance with some embodiments, the base body is made of plastic material. The multiple antenna modules are different or differ from one another, with different antenna modules being designed for different radio technologies, for different transmission standards with electromagnetic waves, for example for different telecommunication services. In this case, for example, electromagnetic waves with different frequencies are sent and/or received by the different antenna modules. The different antenna modules can be operated independently of one another. 
     In addition, the antenna assembly has fastening elements for fastening the housing and the base body to, on, and/or in the outer wall. At least one first fastening element is designed in the form of a pin, for example a screw or bolt. At least one second fastening element can be designed as a flat pane, wherein the base body is clamped or is to be clamped between the second fastening element and the support plate and is thus also fastened or is to be fastened. As a rule, the antenna system is designed to fasten the antenna assembly to the outer wall. 
     In addition to the antenna assembly, the antenna system has a recess in the outer wall. The recess is designed to receive the support plate in the outer wall. 
     The antenna system presented is designed for the outer wall designed as a roof. 
     Furthermore, at least one electronic circuit is arranged on the base body. In accordance with some embodiments, a plurality of separate electronic circuits are arranged on it as electronic components for a plurality of antenna modules. 
     In addition, a maximum distance is provided between electronic components, for example electronic circuits, of two different antenna modules. 
     Different antenna modules of the antenna system are designed to use different radio technologies. 
     The antenna assembly of the antenna system presented has the base body made of plastic material and the support plate, as a result of which additional installation space for antenna modules and/or electrical components can be provided within the antenna assembly. It is possible to arrange a plurality of telephone emitters, for example two telephone emitters or at least three telephone emitters, as different antenna modules in the antenna assembly and thus to build them up or to integrate them into the antenna assembly. 
     It is thus possible to expand the installation space of the antenna assembly that can be used for electronic components and/or within the antenna assembly by using the base body made of a non-conductive material, wherein the base body is or will be made of plastic material as the non-conductive material, for example. This also means that the weight of the antenna assembly can be reduced and costs can also be saved. 
     A counterweight and/or a ground plane of the antenna assembly is/are provided by the support plate. During installation of the antenna assembly from the inside, i.e. starting from an interior of the vehicle, the support plate is fastened, for example screwed, to the outer wall from the inner side of the outer wall designed as a roof, for example starting from a roof liner. It is provided that the support plate galvanically and/or capacitively connects the antenna assembly to the outer wall. 
     Due to such a construction of the antenna assembly of the antenna system, the result is that additional installation space is created for the electronic components and/or antenna modules to be received therein. An installation space enclosed by the antenna assembly or by a housing of the antenna assembly has a maximum extension in a longitudinal direction, the installation space having a first, e.g. front end, and a second, e.g. rear end, these two ends being arranged within the housing. It is possible for an antenna module to be arranged at each end, the antenna modules which are to be arranged or are arranged in the installation space being provided for different services and communicating via electromagnetic waves of different frequencies for different radio technologies. These two different antenna modules have a maximum possible distance at the two described ends within the installation space and/or housing. In this case, the antenna modules are decoupled from one another by means of the base body, design parameters for the decoupling of the antenna modules being formed as a result. One of the two antenna modules can, for example, be designed in the form of an LTE emitter for the LTE standard. It is also possible for at least one antenna module to be designed for a fourth-generation 4G or fifth-generation 5G mobile radio standard. 
     It is also possible to integrate an antenna module for a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) in the antenna assembly or in its installation space. It is also possible to retract the antenna assembly and/or its installation space at least partially into the outer wall, e.g. the roof, thereby minimizing the influence of reflected and/or scattered position signals from the global navigation satellite system. Furthermore, it is possible to cut out the support plate under the installation space or a free space, as a result of which a wider design scope is obtained. 
     The at least one antenna module can be designed and/or referred to as a telephone emitter for which a bandwidth of a frequency of, for example, 617 megahertz up to 5 gigahertz is provided. By configuring the antenna assembly, it is possible, for example, to integrate two telephone emitters of this type, which utilize frequencies, usually different frequencies, within the stated bandwidth for communication, in the antenna assembly and thus in the antenna system. 
     The at least one antenna module can have an electronic printed circuit board (PCB) as an electronic component and/or be designed as a printed circuit board of this type. An antenna module of this type, for example designed as a printed circuit board, is arranged directly on the base body made of the electrically insulating material. 
     The base body or an antenna body of the antenna system is made of insulating material such as plastics material. The antenna modules are located outside of the vehicle, with the antenna body closing the recess in the vehicle or a hole in the outer wall, for example a roof, of the vehicle. The support plate made of metal, for example, in the recess of the vehicle forms a counterweight to the antenna assembly and is used for the galvanic connection of the antenna assembly to the outer wall, for example to the roof. Nevertheless, a cavity provided by the recess in the outer wall can be used as installation space for the antenna assembly. The antenna modules or antenna emitters can be partially retracted into the roof using a mechanical device. 
     Further advantages and embodiments of the application can be found in the description and the attached drawing. 
     It is evident that the features mentioned above and those yet to be described below can be used not only in the particular combination indicated, but also in other combinations or in isolation, without exceeding the scope of the present application. 
     The invention is depicted schematically by means of embodiments in the drawings and shall be described schematically and in detail with reference to the drawings. 
     The figures are described in a coherent and comprehensive manner, and the same reference signs are assigned to the same components. 
     The antenna assembly  100  known from the prior art and shown schematically in  FIG.  1    is designed and/or can be referred to as a telephone emitter. In this case, the antenna assembly  100  is arranged on a roof  102 , in this case on a roof plane, of a vehicle. This antenna assembly  100  has a die-cast body  104  made of zinc as the foundation. Furthermore, the antenna assembly  100  comprises a housing  106  which is connected to the die-cast body  104 , the die-cast body  104  and the housing  106  enclosing an installation space of the antenna assembly  100 . Within the installation space above the die-cast body  104 , a plane  108  is indicated in  FIG.  1   , in which plane a printed circuit board (not shown in more detail) is arranged as an electronic component. It is provided that the die-cast body  104  made of metal serves as a carrier for the printed circuit board (PCB). The installation space between the printed circuit board and the housing  106  then remains as an antenna cap for an antenna design. 
     The first embodiment of the antenna system  2  shown schematically in  FIG.  2    comprises an antenna assembly  4  which has a support plate  6  on which a base body  8  made of an electrically insulating or electrically non-conductive material, in this case made of plastics material, is arranged. In addition, the antenna assembly  4  comprises a housing  10  which in turn has an inner cap  12  and a design cap  14 . In this case, the inner cap  12  and the support plate  6  enclose an installation space of the antenna assembly  4 . Furthermore, the design cap  14  encloses the inner cap  12 . 
     The antenna system  2  presented in this case is provided for an outer wall of the vehicle designed as a roof  16 , the roof  16  having a recess  18  which is arranged on an outer side of the roof and/or is integrated into the roof  16 . In this case, the support plate  6  is arranged within the recess  18 . Depending on the definition, it is possible for this recess  18  to also be formed as part of the embodiment of the antenna system  2  presented in this case. Furthermore, the antenna system  2  has a plurality of fastening elements  20 , via which the support plate  6  and thus also the antenna assembly  4  are fastened to the roof  16 , i.e. in this case within the recess  18  of the roof  16 . It is provided in this case that, during installation of the antenna assembly  4 , the support plate  6  is arranged in the recess  18 . Starting from an inner side of the roof  16 , the fastening elements  20  extend through openings within the roof, with the antenna assembly  4  being fastened to the roof  16  via the fastening elements  20 . 
     Depending on the definition, the recess  18  within the roof  16  can be designed and/or referred to as a hole or roof hole, which has a size that is designed for the assembly, for example for the complete assembly of the support plate  6  in the roof  16 . In addition, it is possible to screw the antenna assembly  4  securely and in a watertight manner to the roof  16  via the fastening elements  20 , the support plate  6  being fastened, by means of the fastening elements  20  designed as screws, to the roof  16  and/or within the roof  16  from below or being screwed from the inner side of the roof  16 . 
     A size of the antenna assembly  4 , a curvature of the roof  16 , and a pre-embossing of the recess  18  in the roof  16 , with the recess  18  being oriented upward or outward, allow, by providing the base body  8  which can be designed as a plastics carrier or at least as a partial plastics carrier, the use of an additional installation space for an antenna module designed or to be designated as an emitter in a front region of the antenna assembly  4 , which region is flat in this case. 
     By definition, the antenna assembly  4  in this case has a first front end  22  and a second rear end  24 . It is provided that the height of the installation space at the front end  22  is less than in or at the rear end  24 . Overall, the height of the installation space enclosed by the housing  10  and the support plate  6  increases, starting from the first front end  22  towards the second rear end  24 . The housing  10  of the antenna assembly  4  is designed to be aerodynamic, with the first front end  22  being arranged in front of the second rear end  24  in a forward direction of travel of the vehicle. 
     In the embodiment of the antenna system  2  presented in this case, a physical installation space for a first antenna module is provided in the region of the first front end  22  and a physical installation space for a second antenna module is provided in the region of the second rear end  24 . A corresponding antenna module can be designed and/or referred to as an emitter. A corresponding antenna module is arranged on the base body  8  in the region of a corresponding end  22 ,  24 . A maximum longitudinal distance extends between the two ends  22 ,  24  within the installation space, as a result of which sufficient decoupling of the antenna modules within the antenna assembly  4  is ensured. 
     The second embodiment of the antenna system  32  shown schematically in  FIG.  3    comprises an antenna assembly  34  which has a support plate  36  on which a base body  38  made of an electrically insulating or electrically non-conductive material, in this case made of plastics material, is arranged. In addition, the antenna assembly  34  comprises a housing  40  which in turn has an inner cap  42  and a design cap  44 . In this case, the inner cap  42  and the support plate  36  enclose an installation space of the antenna assembly  34 . Furthermore, the design cap  44  encloses the inner cap  42 . 
     The antenna system  32  presented in this case is provided for an outer wall of the vehicle designed as a roof  46 , the roof  46  having a recess  48  which is arranged in an outer side of the roof and/or is integrated into the roof  46 . In this case, the support plate  36  is arranged within the recess  48 . Depending on the definition, it is possible for this recess  48  to also be formed as part of the embodiment of the antenna system  32  presented in this case. Furthermore, the antenna system  32  has a plurality of fastening elements  50 ,  51  via which the support plate  36  and thus also the antenna assembly  34  is fastened to the roof  46 , i.e. in this case within the recess  48  of the roof  46 . In this case, three first fastening elements  50  are designed as screws or bolts. A second fastening element  51  is designed in this case as a flat plate or pane. It is provided in this case that, during installation of the antenna assembly  34 , the support plate  36  is arranged in the recess  48 . Starting from an inner side of the roof  46 , the first fastening elements  50  extend through openings within the roof  46 . In addition, the base body  38  is clamped between the support plate  36  and the second flat fastening element  51 . The base body  38 , the support plate  36 , and the second fastening element  51  are fastened to the roof  46  via the first fastening elements  50  in the recess  48  of the roof  46 . 
     Depending on the definition, the recess  48  within the roof  46  can be formed and/or referred to as a hole or roof hole that has a size that is formed for the assembly, for example for the complete assembly, of the support plate  36  in the roof  46 . It is also possible to screw the antenna assembly  34  securely and in a watertight manner to the roof  46  via fastening elements  50 ,  51 , with the support plate  36  being screwed to the roof  46  and/or within the roof  46  from below or from the inner side of the roof  46  by means of the first fastening elements  50  and the second fastening element  51 . 
     A size of the antenna assembly  34 , a curvature of the roof  46 , and a pre-embossing of the recess  48  in the roof  46 , with the recess  48  being oriented upward or outward, allow, by providing the base body  48  which can be designed as a plastics carrier or partial plastics carrier, the use of additional installation space for an antenna module designed or to be designated as an emitter in a front region of antenna assembly  34 , which region is flat in this case. 
     In this case, by definition, the antenna assembly  34  has a first front end  52  and a second, rear end  54 . It is provided that the height of the installation space at the front end  52  is less than in or at the rear end  54 . Overall, the height of the installation space enclosed by the housing  40  and the support plate  36  increases, starting from the first front end  52  towards the second rear end  54 . The housing  40  of the antenna assembly  34  is designed to be aerodynamic, with the first front end  52  being arranged in front of the second rear end  54  in a forward direction of travel of the vehicle. 
     In the embodiment of the antenna system  32  presented in this case, a physical installation space for a first antenna module is provided in the region of the first front end  52 , and a physical installation space for a second antenna module is provided in the region of the second end  54 . A corresponding antenna module can be designed and/or referred to as an emitter. In this case, a corresponding antenna module is arranged in the region of a corresponding end  52 ,  54  on the base body. A maximum longitudinal distance extends between the two ends  52 ,  54  within the installation space, as a result of which sufficient decoupling of the antenna modules is ensured. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS 
       2  Antenna system 
       4  Antenna assembly 
       6  Support plate 
       8  Base body 
       10  Housing 
       12  Inner cap 
       14  Design cap 
       16  Roof 
       18  Recess 
       20  Fastening element 
       22 ,  24  End 
       32  Antenna system 
       34  Antenna assembly 
       36  Support plate 
       38  Base body 
       40  Housing 
       42  Inner cap 
       44  Design cap 
       46  Roof 
       48  Recess 
       50 ,  51  Fastening element 
       52 ,  54  End 
       100  Antenna assembly 
       102  Roof 
       104  Base body 
       106  Housing 
       108  Plane