Antenna device and vehicle including the same

Abstract

The invention relates to an antenna device and a vehicle including the same. The antenna device includes: at least one antenna disposed on a transparent inclined surface of a vehicle interior and including a radiation patch facing a first radiation direction perpendicular to the inclined surface; and a partition wall surrounding a portion of the at least one antenna. The partition wall is configured such that a beam radiated from the radiation patch in a first radiation direction is inclined from the first radiation direction to a second radiation direction.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0088442 filed on Jul. 7, 2023, the entire contents of which application is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to an antenna device and a vehicle including the same, and more particularly, to an antenna device capable of improving performance and a vehicle including the same. Background Art

[0004] The demand for various communication services and multimedia services for vehicles is increasing. With the development of autonomous vehicles, the demand for communication technology that can continuously communicate with vehicles and exchange or share information about traffic conditions and infrastructure around roads is also increasing.

[0005] In recent years, in order to ensure excellent design of vehicles, antenna devices that can be installed inside vehicles may be developed. The signal reception rate of the antenna device installed inside the vehicle becomes lower than when installed outside the vehicle due to interference from the vehicle body, so the performance may be degraded.

[0006] The information included in the Background of the Invention is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art. Summary of the invention

[0007] Various aspects of the present invention are directed to providing an antenna device capable of improving performance and a vehicle including the same.

[0008] The technical problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned problems, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs will clearly understand any other technical problems not mentioned herein from the following description.

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, an antenna device includes: at least one antenna, which is arranged on a transparent inclined surface inside a vehicle and includes a radiation patch, which faces a first radiation direction perpendicular to the first inclined surface; a partition wall, which surrounds a portion of the at least one antenna, and the partition wall is configured so that a beam radiated from the radiation patch along the first radiation direction is inclined from the first radiation direction to a second radiation direction.

[0010] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the partition wall may be formed to surround at least a portion of both side surfaces defining any one of the side edge portions of the at least one antenna.

[0011] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the partition wall may be formed to surround at least a portion of two side surfaces defining a side edge portion facing in a direction opposite to the second radiation direction.

[0012] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the partition wall may be formed to be higher than a height of the at least one antenna.

[0013] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the partition wall may include a first partition wall region facing one of the side surfaces of the at least one antenna; and a second partition wall region facing a side surface of the side surfaces different from the side surface faced by the first partition wall.

[0014] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the partition walls may be arranged such that the first partition wall region and the second partition wall region are perpendicular to the radiation patch.

[0015] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a height of at least one of the first partition wall region or the second partition wall region may be greater than a height of the at least one antenna.

[0016] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the partition wall may further include a protruding region bent from at least one of the first partition wall region or the second partition wall region and protruding toward the at least one antenna.

[0017] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the protruding area may be arranged parallel to the radiation patch.

[0018] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the antenna device may further include a circuit board, the at least one antenna and the partition wall are arranged in the circuit board, and the protruding area may be exposed between the at least one antenna and the partition wall.

[0019] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the protruding area may overlap a portion of the radiation patch while being spaced apart from the radiation patch.

[0020] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the partition wall may be formed to face a chamfer formed on the radiation patch.

[0021] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the at least one antenna may receive signals in a satellite frequency band.

[0022] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the antenna device may further include: a shell, which defines a storage space for accommodating the at least one antenna and the partition wall, and the shell may include: a first cover; and a second cover, which faces the first cover and accommodates a circuit board, and the at least one antenna and the partition wall are arranged on the circuit board.

[0023] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first cover may be attached to a transparent inclined surface of a vehicle.

[0024] According to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle communicating with an external device includes an antenna device.

[0025] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the transparent inclined surface may be a front windshield of a vehicle, and the partition wall may cause a beam radiated from at least one antenna along a first radiation direction perpendicular to the front windshield to be inclined toward a second direction perpendicular to the ground and in a direction opposite to the ground.

[0026] The methods and apparatus of the present invention have other features and advantages, which will be apparent from, or will be described in more detail in, the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description incorporated herein, which together serve to explain the specific principles of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Figure 1A and Figure 1B is an exploded perspective view exemplarily illustrating an antenna device for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 2A is a schematic diagram exemplarily showing an antenna device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention mounted on a vehicle, Figure 2B is a schematic diagram exemplarily showing an antenna device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with a first cover removed, Figure 2C It is along Figure 2A A cross-sectional view of the antenna device taken along line AA';

[0029] Figure 3 is a detailed perspective view exemplarily showing a first antenna and a partition wall included in an antenna device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 4A and Figure 4B is a schematic diagram exemplarily illustrating a radiation pattern of an antenna device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 5is a perspective view exemplarily showing an antenna device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Fig. 6A and Figure 6B is a schematic diagram exemplarily showing a radiation pattern of an antenna device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

[0033] Figure 7 : is a schematic diagram exemplarily showing a radiation pattern of a frequency band of an antenna device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] It should be understood that the accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, but are appropriately simplified drawings of various features presented to illustrate the basic principles of the present invention. The predetermined design features of the present invention as included herein (e.g., including specific dimensions, directions, positions and shapes) will be determined in part by the specific intended application and use environment.

[0035] In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several figures of the drawing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. Although the present invention will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood that this specification is not intended to limit the present invention to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. On the other hand, the present invention is intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, but also various alternative embodiments, modified embodiments, equivalent embodiments or other embodiments that may be included in the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0037] Hereinafter, various exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. When adding reference numerals to the components of the drawings, it should be noted that even if the same components are shown in different drawings, they are represented by the same reference numerals. In addition, when describing the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, when it is determined that the detailed description of related known configurations and functions may hinder the understanding of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, their detailed description will be omitted.

[0038] In addition, when describing the components of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, terms such as first, second, "A", "B", (A) and (B) may be used. These terms are only used to distinguish components, and the nature, order and sequence of the corresponding components are not limited by these terms. Unless defined differently, all terms including technical or scientific terms include the same meanings as those generally understood by ordinary technicians in the field to which the present invention belongs. Commonly used terms (e.g., terms defined in dictionaries) should be interpreted as consistent with the contextual meanings of the relevant technology, and unless clearly defined in the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, they should not be interpreted as idealized or overly formalized meanings.

[0039] In the following, reference will be made to Figures 1A to 7 Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in detail.

[0040] Figure 1A and Figure 1B is a perspective view schematically illustrating an antenna device for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] refer to Figure 1A and Figure 1B The antenna device 101 for a vehicle may be arranged inside the vehicle. The antenna device 101 may include a housing 110, a circuit board 150, at least one antenna 120 and 220, and a partition wall 210.

[0042] The housing 110 may be embedded with various components required for the operation of the antenna device 101, and may stably fix the embedded components while safely protecting the embedded components from external impacts. The housing 110 may have various shapes according to the installation position of the antenna device 101 or the shape of the embedded components. As an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the housing 110 may include a polyhedral shape, a cylindrical shape, or a spherical shape, or at least one surface thereof may be streamlined.

[0043] The housing 110 may include a first cover 111 and a second cover 112. The first cover 111 may be arranged to face the outside of the vehicle. The second cover 112 may be arranged to face the first cover 111. The second cover 112 may be arranged to face the inside of the vehicle. The second cover 112 may be joined to the first cover 111. At least one side surface of the second cover 112 may include any one of a joining protrusion 122 or a joining hole 121 protruding to the outside of the second cover 112, and at least one side surface of the first cover 111 may include the other of the joining protrusion 122 and the joining hole 121. As an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the joining protrusion 122 formed on the second cover 112 may be fastened to the joining hole 121 formed on the first cover 111.

[0044] Since the second cover 112 and the first cover 111 are coupled to each other, an inner space may be provided between the first cover 111 and the second cover 112. The circuit board 150, at least one antenna 120 and 220, and the partition wall 210 may be accommodated inside the case 110.

[0045] The circuit board 150 is disposed at the second cover 112, and processes a signal received through at least one antenna 120 and 220. For example, the circuit board 150 may remove noise, etc. by filtering a signal of a desired frequency band, and may amplify the signal to a desired level.

[0046] At least one antenna 120 and 220 may transmit and receive various signals. At least one antenna 120 and 220 may include a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) antenna, an SXM antenna, and a communication antenna. The GNSS antenna and the SXM antenna are patch antennas, and the communication antenna may be a monopole antenna in the form of a coil that receives a communication signal such as an FM / AM signal or a long term evolution (LTE).

[0047] At least one antenna 120 and 220 may include a first antenna 220 and a second antenna 120. The first antenna 220 and the second antenna 120 may operate in the same or different frequency bands. As an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, either one of the first antenna 220 and the second antenna 120 may be a GNSS antenna, and the other of the first antenna 220 and the second antenna 120 may be an SXM antenna. Hereinafter, reference will be made to the case where the first antenna 220 is an SXM antenna and the second antenna 120 is a GNSS antenna as an example.

[0048] The upper surfaces of the first antenna 220 and the second antenna 120 as radiation patches may be formed to face the first cover 111, and may have various shapes, for example, polygonal, circular, or elliptical. When the first antenna 220 is observed from the first cover 111, at least one edge of the upper surface of the first antenna 220 may face at least two edges of the circuit board 150. At least one vertex of the upper surface of the first antenna 220 may face one edge of the circuit board 150. When the second antenna 120 is observed from the first cover 111, at least one edge of the upper surface of the second antenna 120 may correspond one-to-one to at least one edge of the circuit board 150. At least one edge of the upper surface of the second antenna 120 may be formed to be parallel to at least one edge of the circuit board 150.

[0049] The partition wall 210 may be formed to surround at least a portion of the first antenna 220, and may be formed to be higher than the first antenna 220. The partition wall 210 may be spaced apart from the first antenna 220 and the second antenna 120.

[0050] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the antenna device 101 may include a cable 140 for sending and receiving antenna signals, a shield can 130, and a plurality of sensors. The shield can 130 may shield electromagnetic waves radiated to the outside thereof. The shield can 130 may be arranged between the second cover 112 and the circuit board 150. The shield can 130 may be in surface contact with the circuit board 150.

[0051] The antenna device 101 may be arranged inside the vehicle. For example, the antenna device 101 may be provided on at least one of the front windshield, rear windshield, and side windshield of the vehicle that are inclined toward the ground (or road) or the roof of the vehicle.

[0052] The antenna device 101 may receive or transmit information from or to an external device, for example, road traffic information required by a user using a vehicle, radio broadcast or vehicle position information, or road traffic information required for automatic driving of a vehicle.

[0053] Figure 2A is a schematic diagram exemplarily showing an antenna device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention mounted on a vehicle, Figure 2B is a schematic diagram exemplarily showing an antenna device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with a first cover removed, Figure 2C It is along Figure 2A A cross-sectional view of the antenna device taken along line AA' in FIG.

[0054] refer to Figure 2A , Figure 2B and Figure 2C , the antenna device 101 according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be formed on a transparent inclined surface arranged to be inclined relative to the roof of the vehicle or the ground (or road). For example, the antenna device 101 may be arranged on a transparent inclined surface that is at least one of the front windshield 202, the side windshield, or the rear windshield of the vehicle. As an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the antenna device 101 may be mounted on the roof of the vehicle or the front windshield 202 arranged to be inclined relative to the ground. The front windshield 202 may include an outer surface S1 facing the outside of the vehicle and an inner surface S2 opposite to the outer surface S1 and facing the inside of the vehicle. The antenna device 101 may be mounted on the inner surface S2 of the front windshield 202 facing the inside of the vehicle. The first cover 111 of the antenna device 101 may be attached to the inner surface S2 of the front windshield 202. The first cover 111 of the antenna device 101 may be in contact with the inner surface S2 of the front windshield 202. The antenna device 101 may be arranged around the inner rearview mirror 201.

[0055] The plurality of antennas 120 and 220 included in the antenna device 101 and the partition wall 210 may be arranged on the circuit board 150. The radiation patch of at least one of the plurality of antennas 120 and 220 may be formed to face the third direction D3 facing the outside of the vehicle. The partition wall 210 may be formed to surround a portion of the first antenna 220. The partition wall 210 may be formed to surround a first edge portion 221 of a side edge portion of the first antenna 220 that faces a ground direction (e.g., -Z axis direction) (which is perpendicular to the ground, toward the ground), and may be formed not to surround a second edge portion 222 that faces an upward direction (e.g., +Z axis direction) (which is perpendicular to the ground, toward above the ground).

[0056] Figure 3 is a detailed perspective view exemplarily showing a first antenna and a partition wall included in the antenna device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0057] refer to Figure 3 , the first antenna 220 may include a radiation patch 230 , a substrate 240 , and a feeding pin 250 .

[0058] The substrate 240 may include a lower surface facing the circuit board 150, an upper surface opposite to the lower surface, and at least one side surface disposed between the lower surface and the upper surface. The substrate 240 may include a dielectric having a relatively high dielectric constant.

[0059] The radiation patch 230 may be formed on the upper surface of the substrate 240. The radiation patch 230 may include a thin plate of a conductive material with high conductivity (e.g., copper, aluminum, gold, or silver). Depending on the shape of the substrate 240, the radiation patch 230 may have various shapes, for example, a polygonal, circular, or elliptical shape. The radiation patch 230 may be changed to have various shapes by a method such as frequency tuning. Therefore, the radiation patch 230 is fed by the feeding pin 250 to operate as an antenna that resonates in the satellite antenna frequency band.

[0060] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the radiation patch 230 may have various sizes and areas according to the operating frequency of the first antenna 220. The area of ​​the upper surface of the radiation patch 230 may be formed to be smaller than the area of ​​the upper surface of the substrate 240. The upper surface of the radiation patch 230 may be formed to face a third direction D3 perpendicular to the front windshield (which is formed to be inclined with respect to the ground).

[0061] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the radiation patch 230 may include a plurality of side surfaces bent from its upper surface. The plurality of side surfaces may extend parallel to the third direction D3. The radiation patch 230 may include two first side surfaces 231, two second side surfaces 232, and at least one chamfer 233.

[0062] The first side surface 231 of the radiation patch 230 may be formed to be long in the first direction D1. The second side surface 232 of the radiation patch 230 may be formed to be long in the second direction D2, and may be formed to face the first side surface 231. A chamfer 233 of the radiation patch 230 may be formed between the first side surface 231 and the second side surface 232. A plurality of chamfers 233 may be formed in the radiation patch 230, and the plurality of chamfers 233 may be formed to be parallel to the facing chamfers 233.

[0063] The feeding pin 250 may pass through the substrate 240 while being connected to the radiation patch 230. The feeding pin 250 may be arranged parallel to a side surface of the substrate 240. The feeding pin 250 may be mounted to the circuit board 150.

[0064] The partition wall 210 may be formed to surround at least a portion of the first antenna 220. For example, the partition wall 210 may be formed to have a 'V' shape.

[0065] The partition wall 210 may be formed to be higher than the first antenna 220. As an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first antenna 220 may be formed to a first height H1 on the circuit board 150. Any one of the first partition wall region 211 or the second partition wall region 212 included in the partition wall 210 may be formed to a second height H2 greater than the first height H1.

[0066] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the partition wall 210 may include a first partition wall region 211 and a second partition wall region 212. The first partition wall region 211 may face any one of the plurality of side surfaces of the first antenna 220. The second partition wall region 212 may face one of the plurality of side surfaces of the first antenna 220 that is different from the first partition wall region. The first partition wall region 211 and the second partition wall region 212 may be arranged to be perpendicular to the radiation patch of the first antenna 220.

[0067] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the partition wall 210 may include a first partition wall region 211 , a second partition wall region 212 , and a third partition wall region 213 .

[0068] The first partition wall region 211 may have a length in the first direction D1, a width in the second direction D2, and a height in the third direction D3. The first partition wall region 211 may be arranged to face the first side surface 231 of the radiation patch 230 in the second direction D2. The first partition wall region 211 may be arranged perpendicular to the radiation patch 230 of the first antenna 220 facing the third direction D3. The first partition wall region 211 may be spaced apart from the first antenna 220 by a first distance d1.

[0069] The second partition wall region 212 may have a length along the second direction D2, a width along the first direction D1, and a height along the third direction D3. The second partition wall region 212 may be arranged to face the second side surface 232 of the radiation patch 230 in the first direction D1. The second partition wall region 212 may be spaced apart from the first antenna 220 by a second distance d2. The second partition wall region 212 may be arranged perpendicular to the radiation patch 230 of the first antenna 220 toward the third direction D3. The second distance d2 may be similar to or equal to the first distance d1.

[0070] The third partition wall region 213 may be arranged between the first partition wall region 211 and the second partition wall region 212. The third partition wall region 213 may be arranged parallel to the chamfer 233 of the radiation patch 230. The third partition wall region 213 may be arranged to define an obtuse angle with at least one of the first partition wall region 211 and the second partition wall region 212. The third partition wall region 213 may correspond to a first edge portion 221 facing the ground (e.g., -Z axis direction) among the side edge portions of the first antenna 220.

[0071] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the partition wall 210 may include a first partition wall region 211 and a second partition wall region 212 without any third partition wall region 213. In this case, the first partition wall region 211 and the second partition wall region 212 may contact each other. The edge portion between the first partition wall region 211 and the second partition wall region 212 may correspond to the first edge portion 221 of the first antenna 220.

[0072] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the partition wall 210 may be formed to surround at least a portion of the first antenna 220. The partition wall 210 may be formed to surround a first edge portion 221 facing the ground (e.g., -Z axis direction) among the side edge portions of the first antenna 220. The partition wall 210 may be formed to face a first side surface 231 and a second side surface 232 located on both sides of the first edge portion 221. Compared to the case where the partition wall 210 is formed to surround one, three, or four side surfaces of the first antenna 220, when two side surfaces are continuously surrounded, the circular polarization characteristic radiated by the first antenna 220 may be maintained more.

[0073] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the partition wall 210 may form a beam pattern radiated from the radiation patch 230 of the first antenna 220. When a satellite signal is received through the first antenna 220, the partition wall 210 may control the beam pattern radiated from the radiation patch of the first antenna 220. The partition wall 210 may guide a beam radiated from the radiation patch 230 of the first antenna 220 in a direction perpendicular to the front windshield during operation of the first antenna 220, so that the beam is tilted in a direction perpendicular to the ground, in a direction opposite to the ground (or road) (or in an upward direction) (or in a direction facing the roof (e.g., the direction in which the roof 21 of FIG. 1 faces)) (+Z axis). Therefore, the first antenna 220 may tilt the beam through the partition wall 210 while maintaining the circular polarization characteristic, thereby forming a radiation pattern suitable for the upward direction (+Z axis), thereby improving the signal reception sensitivity of the satellite signal.

[0074] Figure 4A and Figure 4B is a schematic diagram exemplarily showing the radiation pattern of an antenna device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. For example, Figure 4A is a schematic diagram exemplarily showing a radiation pattern when the height of the partition wall 210 is 10 mm, Figure 4B 2 is a schematic diagram exemplarily showing a radiation pattern when the height of the partition wall 210 is 15 mm.

[0075] refer to Figure 4A and Figure 4B , the beam radiated by the first antenna 220 along the third direction D3 (or the first radiation direction) perpendicular to the front windshield of the vehicle or the radiation patch 230 of the first antenna 220 can be tilted toward the upward direction (+Z) (or the second radiation direction) through the partition wall 210. Therefore, the beam from the first antenna 220 through the partition wall 210 can be radiated along a direction Da and Db tilted from the third direction D3 toward the upward direction (+Z). Accordingly, as the height of the partition wall 210 increases, the beam radiated from the first antenna 220 can be tilted more toward the upward direction (+Z). As an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when the height of the partition wall 210 is 15mm, the beam radiated from the first antenna 220 is tilted more toward the upward direction (+Z) compared to the case where the height of the partition wall is 10mm. Therefore, by including the antenna device of the first antenna 220 and the partition wall 210, the signal reception sensitivity of the satellite signal can be improved.

[0076] Figure 5 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an antenna device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0077] refer to Figure 5 , the antenna device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include the antenna device shown in FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 and FIG. Figure 3 The components of the antenna device shown in FIG. 1 are the same components, except that Figure 5 The antenna device further includes a protruding area 214. Therefore, the same components will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and a detailed description of the same components will be omitted.

[0078] The partition wall 210 may include a first partition wall region 211, a second partition wall region 212, a third partition wall region 213, and a protruding region 214. The protruding region 214 may be arranged parallel to the radiation patch 230 of the first antenna 220 toward the third direction D3. The protruding region 214 may be bent from at least one of the first partition wall region 211, the second partition wall region 212, or the third partition wall region 213 to extend toward the first antenna 220.

[0079] As an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the protruding region 214 may overlap at least one of the first partition wall region 211 , the second partition wall region 212 , or the third partition wall region 213 and at least a portion of the circuit board 150 exposed by the first antenna 220 .

[0080] As an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the protruding area 214 may extend from at least one of the first partition wall area 211, the second partition wall area 212, or the third partition wall area 213 to the upper side of the partial area of ​​the first antenna 220. The protruding area 214 may overlap with at least one of the first partition wall area 211, the second partition wall area 212, or the third partition wall area 213 and at least a portion of the circuit board 150 exposed by the first antenna 220. In addition, the protruding area 214 may overlap with a portion of the radiation patch 230 of the first antenna 220 while being spaced apart from the radiation patch 230 of the first antenna 220.

[0081] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the partition wall 210 may form a beam pattern radiated from the radiation patch 230 of the first antenna 220. When receiving a satellite signal through the first antenna 220, the partition wall 210 may control the beam pattern radiated from the radiation patch of the first antenna 220. The partition wall 210 may guide a beam radiated from the radiation patch 230 of the first antenna 220 in a direction perpendicular to the front windshield during operation of the first antenna 220, so that the beam is tilted in a direction perpendicular to the ground, in a direction opposite to the ground (or road) (or in an upward direction) (or in a direction facing the roof (e.g., the direction in which the roof 21 of FIG. 1 faces)) (+Z axis). Therefore, the first antenna 220 may tilt the beam through the partition wall 210 while maintaining the circular polarization characteristic, thereby forming a radiation pattern suitable for the upward direction, thereby improving the signal reception sensitivity of the satellite signal.

[0082] According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in the case where the height of the partition wall 210 is constant, when the width of the protruding area 214 becomes larger, the tilt angle of the beam of the first antenna 220 passing through the partition wall 210 can become larger. Even if the height of the partition wall 210 is not increased, the beam of the first antenna 220 can be tilted while maintaining the circular polarization characteristic. Therefore, the thickness of the antenna due to the partition wall 210 can be prevented from increasing, so that the antenna device can be miniaturized.

[0083] Fig. 6A and Figure 6B is a schematic diagram exemplarily showing the radiation pattern of an antenna device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. For example, Fig. 6A is a schematic diagram exemplarily showing a radiation pattern when the height of the partition wall 210 is 10 mm and the width of the protruding area 214 is 5 mm, Figure 6B 2 is a schematic diagram exemplarily showing a radiation pattern when the height of the partition wall 210 is 10 mm and the width of the protruding region 214 is 15 mm.

[0084] refer to Fig. 6A and Figure 6B , the beam radiated by the first antenna 220 along the third direction D3 (or the first radiation direction) perpendicular to the front windshield of the vehicle or the radiation patch 230 of the first antenna 220 can be tilted toward the upward direction (+Z) (or the second radiation direction) through the partition wall 210. Therefore, the beam from the first antenna 220 through the partition wall 210 can be radiated along one direction Dc and Dd tilted from the third direction D3 toward the upward direction (+Z). Accordingly, in the case where the height of the partition wall 210 is constant, when the width of the protruding area 214 becomes larger, the beam radiated from the first antenna 220 can be tilted more toward the upward direction (+Z). As an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in the case where the height of the partition wall 210 is a constant value of 10mm, when the width of the protruding area is 15mm, compared with the case where the width of the protruding area is 5mm, the beam radiated from the first antenna 220 can be tilted more toward the upward direction (+Z). Therefore, by the antenna device including the first antenna 220 and the partition wall 210, the signal reception sensitivity of the satellite signal can be improved.

[0085] Figure 7 : is a schematic diagram exemplarily showing a radiation pattern of a frequency band of an antenna device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0086] refer to Figure 7, the antenna device operating at the first frequency band (e.g., 2332MHz) 701, the second frequency band (e.g., 2345MHz) 702, and the third frequency band (e.g., 2320MHz) 703 can receive satellite signals with circular polarization at an angle of 0 to 60 degrees. It can be seen that the antenna device including the first antenna 220 and the partition wall 210 has excellent radiation characteristics of satellite signals received at an angle of 0 to 60 degrees. Therefore, it can be seen that the antenna device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention has an antenna characteristic of stably receiving satellite signals at the satellite frequency band.

[0087] The present technology can make the beam radiated in the direction perpendicular to the transparent inclined surface inside the vehicle tilted toward the direction perpendicular to the ground through the partition wall while maintaining the circular polarization of the beam. Therefore, the present technology can enhance the antenna performance, for example, it can improve the signal reception sensitivity of satellite signals.

[0088] The present technology may include a partition wall having a protruding area to prevent the thickness of the antenna device from increasing, thereby miniaturizing the antenna device.

[0089] Since the antenna device is disposed inside the vehicle, the present technology can maintain an excellent appearance in design.

[0090] Furthermore, various effects directly or indirectly achieved by the present invention can be provided.

[0091] The above description is a simple example of the technical spirit of the present invention, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may make various corrections and modifications to the present invention without departing from the essential features of the present invention.

[0092] For ease of interpretation and accurate definition in the appended claims, the terms "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer", "upward", "downward", "upwardly", "downwardly", "front", "rear", "back", "inside", "outside", "inwardly", "outwardly", "inner", "external", "inwardly", "outwardly", "forward" and "rearward" are used to describe the features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as shown in the accompanying drawings. It will be further understood that the term "connected" or its derivatives refer to both direct and indirect connections.

[0093] The term "and / or" may include a combination of multiple related listed items or any one of multiple related listed items. For example, "A and / or B" includes all three situations such as "A", "B" and "A and B".

[0094] In this specification, a singular expression includes a plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0095] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, “at least one of A and B” may refer to “at least one of A or B” or “at least one of a combination of at least one of A and B”. Furthermore, “one or more of A and B” may refer to “one or more of A or B” or “one or more of a combination of one or more of A and B”.

[0096] In the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood that terms such as "include" or "have" are intended to indicate the presence of features, values, steps, operations, elements, parts, or a combination thereof described in the specification, and do not exclude the possibility of adding or existing one or more other features, values, steps, operations, elements, parts, or a combination thereof.

[0097] The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention are presented for the purpose of illustration and description. These descriptions are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the present invention to the precise form disclosed, and it is apparent that many modifications and changes may be made in accordance with the above teachings. Exemplary embodiments are selected and described to explain the specific principles of the present invention and its practical application, so that those skilled in the art can implement and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the present invention and various alternative embodiments and modified embodiments thereof. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An antenna device, comprising: at least one antenna disposed on a transparent inclined surface inside the vehicle and comprising a radiation patch oriented in a first radiation direction perpendicular to the inclined surface; as well as a partition wall surrounding a portion of the at least one antenna, The partition wall is configured so that a beam radiated from the radiation patch along a first radiation direction is tilted from the first radiation direction to a second radiation direction.

2. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein: The partition wall is formed to surround at least a portion of two side surfaces defining any one of the side edge portions of the at least one antenna.

3. The antenna device according to claim 2, wherein: The partition wall is formed to surround at least a portion of two side surfaces defining a side edge portion facing in a direction opposite to the second radiation direction.

4. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein: The partition wall is formed to be higher than the height of the at least one antenna.

5. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein: The partition wall includes at least two partition wall regions spaced apart by a predetermined angle.

6. The antenna device according to claim 5, wherein: The at least two partition wall regions of the partition wall include: a first partition wall region facing one of the side surfaces of the at least one antenna; and A second partition wall region faces a side surface of the side surfaces that is different from the side surface faced by the first partition wall.

7. The antenna device according to claim 6, wherein: The partition wall further includes a third partition wall region connecting the first partition wall region and the second partition wall region.

8. The antenna device according to claim 7, wherein: The first partition wall region, the second partition wall region, and the third partition wall region are spaced apart from the at least one antenna by a predetermined distance.

9. The antenna device according to claim 6, wherein: The partition walls are arranged such that the first partition wall region and the second partition wall region are perpendicular to the radiation patch.

10. The antenna device according to claim 8, wherein: A height of at least one of the first partition wall region or the second partition wall region is greater than a height of the at least one antenna.

11. The antenna device according to claim 7, wherein: The partition wall further includes a protruding region that is bent from at least one of the first partition wall region, the second partition wall region, and the third partition wall region and protrudes toward the at least one antenna.

12. The antenna device according to claim 11, wherein: The protruding area is arranged parallel to the radiating patch.

13. The antenna device according to claim 11, further comprising: a circuit board in which the at least one antenna and the partition wall are arranged, Wherein, the protruding area is exposed between the at least one antenna and the partition wall.

14. The antenna device according to claim 11, wherein: The protruding area overlaps a portion of the radiation patch while being spaced apart from the radiation patch.

15. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein: The partition wall is formed to face the chamfer formed on the radiation patch.

16. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein: The at least one antenna receives signals in a satellite frequency band.

17. The antenna device according to claim 1, further comprising: a housing defining a storage space in which the at least one antenna and the partition wall are stored, Wherein, the housing comprises: a first cover; and A second cover faces the first cover and accommodates a circuit board on which the at least one antenna and the partition wall are arranged.

18. The antenna device according to claim 17, wherein: The first cover is attached to a transparent, inclined surface of the vehicle.

19. A vehicle that communicates with an external device, the vehicle comprising: The antenna device of claim 1.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein: The transparent inclined surface is the front windshield of the vehicle, The partition wall tilts a beam radiated from at least one antenna along a first radiation direction perpendicular to the front windshield toward a direction perpendicular to the ground and opposite to the ground.

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