Carrier for Holding an Antenna Amplifier of a Vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a carrier (1) for holding an electronic device, in particular an antenna amplifier of a vehicle, having at least one printed circuit board (9), the electronic device being able to be attached to a vehicle component, in particular a vehicle window (12), by means of the carrier (1) which is composed of an electrically nonconductive material, there being provision according to the invention for the carrier (1) to be embodied in a planar fashion and to have latching means as well as spring means which interact therewith and have the purpose of securing the printed circuit board (9) to the carrier (1), as well as at least one recess for holding a contact element in order to make electrical contact with a contact face of the printed circuit board (9) by means of a corresponding contact face (13) on the vehicle component.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The invention relates to a support for holding an electronic device according to the features of the generic portion of claim 1.PRIOR ART[0002]EP 1 080 513 [U.S. Pat. No. 6,411,259] discloses an antenna booster for a vehicle for receiving high-frequency signals. This antenna booster comprises a circuit board with electronic components, connectors, and the like provided thereon in order to perform the function of an antenna booster. The circuit board of the antenna booster is attached to the panel of the vehicle by way of a support. Electrically conductive structures are located on or in the vehicle panel that serve as antennas for receiving high-frequency signals. These high-frequency signals are accessible at the end of the antenna structures on contact surfaces. These contact surfaces correspond with the associated inputs of the antenna booster, and in the embodiment known from this European Patent, which has also been realized in practice, spring arms project...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]In a further development of the invention, the support and/or the housing is structured for shielding the circuit electronic device from the sun or disruptive radiation. By using appropriate materials (for example, for the support, a plastic to which electrically conductive materials have been added or that has an electrically conductive coating, like the housing, which may alternatively be made entirely of metal), disruptive radiation is prevented from disrupting operation by shining onto the electrical device. This also prevents the electronic device from emitting disruptive radiation, in particular electromagnetic waves, that could reach an interior space in the vehicle.

[0010]In order to improve the cost situation and simplify mo

Problems solved by technology

However, in the embodiment realized in practice, it has been shown that there are consistently problems with regard to the production, storage, installation, transportation, and operation of this system of the “on-glass antenna booster.” Thus the circuit board of the antenna booster must be placed in a groove at an edge of the plastic support, which creates problems for the installation process.

The plastic support is formed only as a frame, such that it does not provide the required rigidity for the circuit board because it is subjected to a high degree of stress during operation of the vehicle due to vibrations, temperature fluctuations, and the like.

One particularly disadvantageous problem may be seen in the fact that the contacts that connect the signal entry of the antenna booster to the associated contact surfaces on the vehicle panel are formed as spring arms projecting from the lower face of the circuit board.

On the one hand, su

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