Patent ID: 12261348

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Meanings of terms described in the present specification should be understood as follows.

It should be understood that a singular form also includes a plural form unless otherwise defined, terms such as “first”, “second”, and the like are provided to distinguish one component from other components, and the scope should not be limited by these terms.

It should be understood that a term such as “include”, “including”, “have”, “having”, or the like does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, components, parts, and/or a combination thereof.

The term “or” includes any and all combinations of the words listed together. For example, “A or B” may include A, may include B, or may include both A and B.

It should be understood that the term “at least one” includes all possible combinations from one or more related items. For example, the meaning of “at least one of the first, second, and third items” refers to a combination of all items which may be proposed from two or more of the first item, the second item, and the third item, as well as each of the first item, the second item, or the third item.

When a certain component is mentioned as being “connected” or “linked” to another component, it should be understood that the certain component may be directly connected or linked to the other component, but still another component may be present therebetween. On the other hand, when it is mentioned that the certain component is “directly connected” or “directly linked” to another element, it should be understood that there is no other component therebetween.

Here, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG.3Ais a perspective view of an antenna device having an antenna contact structure using a conductive gasket according to one embodiment of the present disclosure,FIG.3Bis a partially exploded perspective view of the antenna device shown inFIG.3A,FIG.4Ais an exploded perspective view of the antenna device shown inFIG.3A,FIG.4Bis an exploded perspective view of a contact structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, andFIG.5is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ ofFIG.3B.

As shown inFIGS.3A to5, the antenna device having the antenna contact structure using the conductive gasket according to one embodiment of the present disclosure (hereinafter, referred to as an ‘antenna device100’) includes a carrier110, a radiator120, a contact structure130, and a printed circuit board140. Further, the antenna device100according to the present disclosure may further include a fixing rib150as shown inFIGS.3A to5.

Hereinafter, for convenience of description, a case in which the antenna device100according to the present disclosure includes the fixing rib150is described, but in another embodiment, the antenna device100according to the present disclosure may optionally include the fixing rib150.

The carrier110constitutes a body of the antenna device100, and the radiator120, the contact structure130, and the fixing rib150according to the present disclosure are formed on the carrier110. Specifically, the fixing rib150according to the present disclosure may be integrally formed with the carrier110when the carrier110is molded. In one embodiment, the carrier110and the fixing rib150may be molded through an injection process.

When the carrier110is formed through the injection process, the carrier110may be formed of a polymer material. For example, the carrier110may include at least one among polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP), polyimide (PI), polyamide (PA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS). However, one embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the carrier110may be formed of other materials as long as they are polymer materials. In one embodiment, when the radiator120according to the present disclosure is formed on the carrier110through plating, the carrier110may be formed of a polymer material which may be plated.

The carrier110according to the present disclosure may be coupled to a wireless device or a vehicle, or may be a part of a wireless device or a vehicle. FIGS.3A,3B, and4A exemplarily illustrate the carrier110, and the carrier110is not limited to the shape shown in the drawing and may be configured in various shapes.

The radiator120is formed on the carrier110in a predetermined pattern. The radiator120is formed of a conductive metal. In one embodiment, the radiator120may be formed by attaching a conductive metal pattern onto a surface of the carrier110. In this case, the conductive metal pattern may be fixed onto the surface of the carrier110by a fusion method.

In another embodiment, the radiator120may be formed on the carrier110using a plating process. For example, the radiator120is formed by filling a conductive metal in a radiator pattern. The radiator pattern may be formed in the carrier110to a predetermined depth. According to this embodiment, the radiator120is formed using copper as a main raw material, and a material such as nickel, gold, or the like may be added in the plating process.

The contact structure130electrically connects the radiator120and the printed circuit board140. In one embodiment, as shown inFIGS.3A to4B, the contact structure130according to the present disclosure may be a plurality of contact structures130. For example, the contact structures130may include a first contact structure130aand a second contact structure130b.

Since detailed configurations of the first contact structure130aand the second contact structure130bare the same, hereinafter, the configuration of the contact structure130will be described based on the configuration of the first contact structure130a. For convenience of description, the first contact structure130awill be referred to as the contact structure130.

The contact structure130includes a conductive gasket400, a torsion suppression member440, and a separation suppression member450.

The conductive gasket400is formed to have a first height h1on the radiator120. The conductive gasket400is formed with a through hole412therein. The conductive gasket400may be compressed by the printed circuit board140to be fixed onto the radiator120. That is, as the printed circuit board140compresses an upper outer wall422of the conductive gasket400, the conductive gasket400may be fixedly coupled to the radiator120.

To this end, the conductive gasket400may be formed of a material having an elastic force and a restoring force. In one embodiment, the conductive gasket400may include a body formed of a silicon material and a metal layer formed on an outer surface of the body to surround the body. In this case, the metal layer may be formed of a stainless (SUS) material.

Like the above, according to the present disclosure, since the contact structure130, which electrically connects the radiator120and the printed circuit board140, is formed using the conductive gasket400having an elastic force and a restoring force, even when vibration or impact occurs while the wireless device or vehicle in which the antenna device100is installed is used, a stable electrical connection between the printed circuit board140and the radiator120is ensured, and accordingly, the antenna device100may be implemented with maximum performance.

Further, since the conductive gasket400is formed of the material having an elastic force, the elastic force and the restoring force are constantly maintained even when the contact structure130is repeatedly used, and thus the reliability of electrical contact between the radiator120and the printed circuit board140may be secured.

In one embodiment, the conductive gasket400may be formed so that the upper outer wall422thereof has a predetermined curvature. In the present disclosure, the upper outer wall422of the conductive gasket400is formed to have the predetermined curvature so that the compressed conductive gasket400may be uniformly spread in first and second directions D1and D2when the conductive gasket400is compressed by the printed circuit board140.

Like the above, according to the present disclosure, when the conductive gasket400is compressed by the printed circuit board140, since the compressed conductive gasket400may be uniformly spread in the first and second directions D1and D2, the thickness distribution of the conductive gasket400may be uniformly maintained, and accordingly, a current flow in the conductive gasket400becomes uniform, and thus the performance of the antenna device100may be improved.

Meanwhile, in the conductive gasket400, an upper inner wall418of the conductive gasket400may also be formed to have the same curvature as the upper outer wall422of the conductive gasket400. In this case, the upper inner wall418of the conductive gasket400refers to a wall formed at an upper inner side of the conductive gasket400by the through hole412. As described above, according to the present disclosure, as the upper inner wall418of the conductive gasket400is also formed to have a curvature, the thickness distribution uniformity of the conductive gasket400may be maximized when the conductive gasket400is compressed by the printed circuit board140, and accordingly, the uniformity of a current flow in the conductive gasket400may also be further improved.

Referring toFIGS.3A to5again, the torsion suppression member440is inserted into the conductive gasket400through the through hole412formed in the conductive gasket400to suppress the torsion of the conductive gasket400. That is, since the torsion suppression member440according to the present disclosure is disposed in the through hole412to suppress movement of the conductive gasket400in the first and second directions D1and D2, the torsion of the conductive gasket400which occurs when the conductive gasket400moves in the first and second directions D1and D2may be prevented.

In one embodiment, the torsion suppression member440may include a flat plate442, a first lower curved plate444, and a second lower curved plate446as shown inFIGS.4B and5.

The flat plate442is disposed to be spaced apart from the upper inner wall418of the conductive gasket400by a predetermined distance in the through hole412. Accordingly, the flat plate442may serve as a stopper which guides the upper inner wall418of the conductive gasket400to be compressed only up to an upper surface of the flat plate442when the conductive gasket400is compressed by the printed circuit board140.

In one embodiment, the flat plate442may be integrally formed with the separation suppression member450. Specifically, the flat plate442may be formed to extend in a third direction D3from one end of the separation suppression member450.

The first lower curved plate444is formed by bending from one side of the flat plate442in a direction of a lower inner wall420of the conductive gasket400in the through hole412.

The second lower curved plate446is formed by bending from the other side of the flat plate442in the direction of the lower inner wall420of the conductive gasket400in the through hole412.

In the present disclosure, the first lower curved plates444and second lower curved plates446constituting the torsion suppression member440are each formed in a curved shape to prevent damage to the inner wall of the conductive gasket400by friction between the torsion suppression member440and the lower inner wall420and a side inner wall424of the conductive gasket400when the conductive gasket400is compressed by the printed circuit board140.

In the above-described embodiment, it has been described that the flat plate442, the first lower curved plate444, and the second lower curved plate446constituting the torsion suppression member440are separate components separated from each other. However, in a modified embodiment, the flat plate442, the first lower curved plate444, and the second lower curved plate446may be integrally formed using the same material.

According to this embodiment, the first lower curved plate444may be formed by rolling one short side of a quadrangular-shaped plate (not shown) having long sides extending in the first and second directions D1and D2in the direction of the lower inner wall420of the conductive gasket400, and the second lower curved plate446may be formed by rolling the other short side of the quadrangular-shaped plate in the direction of the lower inner wall420of the conductive gasket400. In this case, a region between the first lower curved plate444and the second lower curved plate446among the quadrangular-shaped plate constitutes the flat plate442.

In one embodiment, as shown inFIGS.8to10, the torsion suppression member440may include a base plate441, a first upper curved plate443, and a second upper curved plate445.

The base plate441extends from one end of the separation suppression member450into the through hole412. The base plate441may pressurize the lower inner wall420of the conductive gasket400in the through hole412in a sixth direction D6when the conductive gasket400is compressed.

The first upper curved plate443is disposed to be spaced apart from the upper inner wall418of the conductive gasket400by a predetermined distance in the through hole412. Accordingly, the first upper curved plate443may limit a distance in which the upper inner wall418of the conductive gasket400may move in the sixth direction D6when the conductive gasket400is compressed by the printed circuit board140.

The second upper curved plate445is disposed to be spaced apart from the upper inner wall418of the conductive gasket400by a predetermined distance in the through hole412. Accordingly, the second upper curved plate445may limit the distance in which the upper inner wall418of the conductive gasket400may move in the sixth direction D6when the conductive gasket400is compressed by the printed circuit board140.

The first upper curved plate443may be formed by bending from one side of the base plate441in a direction of the upper inner wall418of the conductive gasket400in the through hole412. The second upper curved plate445may be formed by bending from the other side of the base plate441in a direction of the upper inner wall418of the conductive gasket400in the through hole412.

In the present disclosure, the first and second upper curved plates443and445constituting the torsion suppression member440are each formed in a curved shape to smoothly restore the conductive gasket400compressed by the printed circuit board140. This will be looked as follows.

First, looking at with reference to the first upper curved plate443, the first upper curved plate443may be located to be spaced apart from the upper inner wall418of the conductive gasket400in the through hole412when the conductive gasket400is not compressed. Here, when the conductive gasket400is compressed, the uppermost end of the first upper curved plate443and the upper inner wall418of the conductive gasket400may realize line contact. Accordingly, in the present disclosure, since the uppermost end of the first upper curved plate443and the upper inner wall418of the conductive gasket400are smoothly spaced apart from each other after coming into contact with each other by concentrating a pressure on a specific region of the upper inner wall418of the conductive gasket400, the restoring force of the conductive gasket400may be maximized. Accordingly, the present disclosure may be implemented so that the conductive gasket400may be more smoothly restored compared to a comparative example in which the upper inner wall418of the conductive gasket400is pressurized through surface contact.

Next, looking at with reference to the second upper curved plate445, the second upper curved plate445may be located to be spaced apart from the upper inner wall418of the conductive gasket400in the through hole412when the conductive gasket400is not compressed. Here, when the conductive gasket400is compressed, the uppermost end of the second upper curved plate445and the upper inner wall418of the conductive gasket400may realize line contact. Accordingly, in the present disclosure, since the uppermost end of the second upper curved plate445and the upper inner wall418of the conductive gasket400are smoothly spaced apart from each other after coming into contact with each other by concentrating the pressure on a specific region of the upper inner wall418of the conductive gasket400, the restoring force of the conductive gasket400may be maximized. Accordingly, the present disclosure may be implemented so that the conductive gasket400may be more smoothly restored compared to the comparative example in which the upper inner wall418of the conductive gasket400is pressurized through surface contact.

In one embodiment, the base plate441may be integrally formed with the separation suppression member450. Specifically, the base plate441may be formed to extend in the third direction D3from one end of the separation suppression member450.

In the above-described embodiment, it has been described that the base plate441, the first upper curved plate443, and the second upper curved plate445constituting the torsion suppression member440are separate components separated from each other. However, in a modified embodiment, the base plate441, the first upper curved plate443, and the second upper curved plate445may be integrally formed using the same material.

According to this embodiment, the first upper curved plate443may be formed by rolling one short side of the quadrangular-shaped plate (not shown) having long sides extending in the first and second directions D1and D2in the direction of the upper inner wall418of the conductive gasket400, and the second upper curved plate445may be formed by rolling the other short side of the quadrangular-shaped plate in the direction of the upper inner wall418of the conductive gasket400. In this case, a region between the first upper curved plate443and the second upper curved plate445among the quadrangular-shaped plate constitutes the base plate441.

Referring toFIG.4BandFIG.9again, the separation suppression member450is installed at one side of the conductive gasket400to prevent separation of the conductive gasket400. Specifically, since the separation suppression member450is installed to come into contact with an outer wall414of one side of the conductive gasket400to prevent the conductive gasket400from moving in a fifth direction D5, the separation of the conductive gasket400is suppressed.

To this end, the separation suppression member450may be formed to extend in a fourth direction D4, which is a height direction of the conductive gasket400, from the radiator120along the outer wall414of one side of the conductive gasket400.

In one embodiment, the above-described torsion suppression member440and separation suppression member450may be integrally formed. For example, when the separation suppression member450is formed to include a quadrangular-shaped plate having long sides extending in the first and second directions D1and D2to form the torsion suppression member440, the torsion suppression member440may be formed by bending the quadrangular-shaped plate in the third direction D3.

Referring toFIGS.3A and4Aagain, a power supply module (not shown) which generates a power supply signal, a power supply unit which transmits the power supply signal generated by the power supply module to the radiator120, and a ground unit (not shown) which grounds the radiator120are formed on the printed circuit board140. The printed circuit board140is electrically connected to the radiator120through the conductive gasket400. To this end, the printed circuit board140is electrically connected to the conductive gasket400and fixes the conductive gasket400onto the radiator120by compressing the conductive gasket400in the sixth direction D6.

Meanwhile, as described above, the antenna device100according to the present disclosure may further include the fixing rib150for fixing the conductive gasket400. The fixing rib150is disposed to face the separation suppression member450with the conductive gasket400therebetween and fixes the conductive gasket400.

In one embodiment, the fixing rib150may be integrally formed with the carrier110. According to this embodiment, as shown inFIGS.6A and6B, the fixing rib150may be formed on the carrier110to a second height h2to come into contact with an outer wall416of the other side of the conductive gasket400, and in this case, the second height h2of the fixing rib150may be formed to be lower than the first height h1of the conductive gasket400. Accordingly, as shown inFIGS.7A and7B, the fixing rib150may serve as a stopper which guides the conductive gasket400to be compressed only up to an upper surface of the fixing rib150when the conductive gasket400is compressed by the printed circuit board140.

In one embodiment, as shown inFIGS.3to5, when the contact structures130include the first contact structure130aand the second contact structure130b, the first contact structure130amay be electrically connected to the power supply unit formed on the printed circuit board140, and the second contact structure130bmay be electrically connected to the ground unit formed on the printed circuit board140.

According to this embodiment, in order to simultaneously fix the conductive gasket400of the first contact structure130aand the conductive gasket400of the second contact structure130busing only one fixing rib150, the fixing rib150may be disposed between the first contact structure130aand the second contact structure130b.

According to the present disclosure, since the torsion and separation of a conductive gasket are prevented by a torsion suppression member inserted into a through hole of the conductive gasket which electrically connects a radiator and a printed circuit board and a separation suppression member disposed on an outer wall of one side of the conductive gasket, even when vibration or impact occurs while a device in which an antenna according to the present disclosure is installed is used, a stable electrical connection between the printed circuit board and the radiator is ensured, and accordingly, there is an effect that the antenna can be implemented with maximum performance.

Further, according to the present disclosure, there is an effect that a fixing force of the conductive gasket can be increased by adding a fixing rib disposed to face the separation suppression member with the conductive gasket interposed therebetween.

In addition, according to the present disclosure, since the conductive gasket can be coupled to the radiator through the torsion suppression member, the separation suppression member, and the fixing rib, and thus soldering for coupling the conductive gasket to the radiator is not required, a problem of a crack occurring in a lead component solidified by the soldering when the conductive gasket is compressed can be prevented, and accordingly, there is an effect that mechanical strength as well as electrical performance of the antenna can be improved.

In addition, according to the present disclosure, since the torsion suppression member inserted into the through hole of the conductive gasket is formed to have first and second lower curved plates, there is an effect that damage to an inner wall of the conductive gasket by friction between the torsion suppression member and the inner wall of the conductive gasket when the conductive gasket is compressed by the printed circuit board can be prevented.

In addition, according to the present disclosure, since an upper outer wall of the conductive gasket is formed in a curved shape, the compressed conductive gasket is uniformly spread to both sides when the conductive gasket is compressed by the printed circuit board, and thus the thickness distribution of the conductive gasket can be uniformly maintained. Accordingly, a current flow in the conductive gasket becomes uniform, and thus there is an effect that the performance of the antenna can be improved.

In addition, according to the present disclosure, since the conductive gasket is formed of a material having an elastic force, and thus an elastic force and a restoring force are constantly maintained even when a contact structure is repeatedly used, there is an effect that the reliability of electrical contact between the radiator and the printed circuit board can be secured.

Those skilled in the art may understand that the present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present disclosure.

Accordingly, the above-described embodiments should be understood as being exemplary and not limiting. Further, the scope of the present disclosure will be shown by the appended claims rather than the above-described detailed description, and all possible changes or modifications in forms derived from the meaning and the scope of the claims and equivalents thereof should be understood as being within the scope of the present disclosure.