Antenna for telematics receiving unit

Abstract

The invention relates to a telematics receiving unit (100) having a housing (102), a circuit board (101) and at least one antenna (103, 104) arranged outside the housing for GNSS signals, the at least one antenna having an outer conductor and an inner conductor (105) with a dielectric sheath (107) for signal transmission, the dielectric sheath (107) having an outer conductor and an inner conductor (105) with a dielectric sheath (107), the inner conductor is eccentrically arranged in a dielectric sheath, and wherein the inner conductor and the dielectric sheath extend through an opening of the housing (102) and the inner conductor is electrically connected to the circuit board (101).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a telematics receiving unit having a housing. Such a device can be used, for example, in a motor vehicle in order to enable a radio connection of the motor vehicle using different radio standards. Background Art

[0002] Modern motor vehicles are equipped with a variety of networking technologies. These enable the vehicle to connect to the outside world, for example via mobile radio (such as 3G, 4G, or 5G) or so-called V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) radio technology. The vehicle's location can be determined using satellite-assisted positioning systems, such as GPS (Global Positioning System). In this case, the telematics receiving unit serves as the central connection gateway.

[0003] Antenna units for vehicles and vehicles having antenna units are known from the prior art. EP 2 317 603 A1 discloses a multi-standard antenna module for a traffic telematics system, wherein a plurality of individual antennas are arranged in an antenna housing.

[0004] Known telematics receiving units have an antenna arranged outside a shielded housing. Contact with the antenna is achieved via a connector that passes through an opening in the housing wall. The connector can be a molded part or a short HF (high-frequency) line. In any case, the connector requires an additional electrical connection, which can be implemented as a soldered connection, a crimped connection, or a plug-in connection. This additional connection not only requires additional installation work but, like any electrical connection, can also affect the reliability of the entire system—in this case, the telematics receiving unit. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of the present disclosure is to simplify the construction of a telematics receiving unit. This simplification will reduce the manufacturing cost of the receiving unit and improve its reliability.

[0006] This object is achieved by a receiving unit of an antenna having the features of independent claim 1 .

[0007] Embodiments of a receiving unit with two antennas are described in the dependent claims: Claims 2 and 3 describe two antennas arranged superimposed, and claim 4 describes two antennas arranged adjacent to each other for a receiving unit.

[0008] Further advantageous embodiments are contained in the dependent claims and in the following description in conjunction with the drawings.

[0009] According to claim 1, a telematics receiving unit is proposed which has a housing which, for shielding reasons, is made of metal or plastic with an electrically conductive surface.

[0010] The telematics receiving unit includes a first circuit board within the housing, on which an electronic receiving unit is disposed. The receiving unit processes signals from a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) satellite-aided positioning system. These signals originate from an antenna disposed outside the housing of the receiving unit. For example, the antenna is bonded to the housing with an adhesive layer and / or secured to the housing using a locking mechanism.

[0011] The antenna has electrical connections to an inner conductor and an outer conductor. The outer conductor is electrically connected to the housing of the telematics receiving unit. The inner conductor is electrically insulated from the outer conductor by a dielectric sheath and has a defined wave impedance, for example, 50 ohms. The dielectric sheath comprises a low-loss dielectric material, such as a polymer such as Teflon (PTFE), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyamide (PA), or a ceramic material, or one of these polymers with a ceramic filler.

[0012] The inner conductor and the dielectric sheath are guided through an opening in the housing wall to the interior of the receiving unit. Preferably, the housing wall is formed inwardly at the edge of the opening and forms the outer conductor.

[0013] The formed housing wall is connected to the circuit board of the receiving unit via flexible contact elements. The flexible contact elements are arranged on the circuit board and can be spring contacts, elastic polymer pads with a conductive surface, or elastic pads made of conductive polymer.

[0014] The inner conductor is electrically contacted on the printed circuit board of the receiving unit by means of a plug-in connection. The inner conductor forms part of this plug-in connection. The other part of this plug-in connection is located on the printed circuit board and can be secured against accidental loosening by contact spring tongues. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 A transverse cross section is shown with two superimposed antennas on a housing of a telematics receiving unit.

[0016] Figure 2a-2c A top view of an opening in a housing of a receiving unit with an inner conductor is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Figure 1A transverse cross section of two antennas (103, 104) arranged one above the other on a housing (102) of a telematics receiving unit (100) is shown. Each antenna has an inner conductor (105, 106) with a dielectric sheath (107, 108). The sheathed inner conductors are each led through an opening into the interior of the housing. The inner conductors are led uninterruptedly and without extension to a circuit board (101) in the receiving unit and are electrically connected there.

[0018] The outer conductor of the antenna is formed by a metal area of the antenna body. The outer conductor is transferred to the housing by directly superposing the antenna body and arranging it on the metal housing of the receiving unit. At the edge of the housing opening, a housing wall (109) is formed inwardly and extends to the circuit board inside the receiving unit. The formed housing wall surrounds the dielectric sheath of the inner conductor and forms a common outer conductor. Flexible contact elements (110) are arranged on the circuit board, which electrically connect the outer conductor to the circuit board.

[0019] Figure 2a-2c A plan view of an opening in a housing of a receiving unit is shown, with inner conductors (105, 106) each surrounded by a dielectric sheath (107, 108). The inner conductors run eccentrically in the dielectric sheath.

[0020] Figure 2b Shows the basic shape, Figure 2a and 2c An exemplary embodiment is shown with an anti-rotation protection which allows only two antennas to be placed in a predetermined position and thereby prevents the two inner conductors from being connected interchangeably. The anti-rotation protection can be formed by a connecting section ( Figure 2a ) or different outer profiles of the dielectric sheath ( Figure 2c These two variants depend on the corresponding design of the housing opening.

[0021] Reference Signs List

[0022] 100 receiving units

[0023] 101 Circuit Board

[0024] 102 housing

[0025] 103, 104 antennas

[0026] 105, 106 inner conductor

[0027] 107, 108 dielectric sheath

[0028] 109 formed shell wall

[0029] 110 flexible contact element

Claims

1. A telematics receiving unit (100) comprising a circuit board (101), a housing (102), and an antenna for GNSS signals arranged outside the housing (103), wherein: The antenna has an outer conductor and an inner conductor (105) with a dielectric sheath (107) for signal transmission, wherein the inner conductor and the dielectric sheath extend through an opening of the housing and the inner conductor is electrically connected to the circuit board.

2. A telematics receiving unit (100) comprising a circuit board (101), a housing (102), and two antennas (103, 104) for GNSS signals arranged superimposed on the outside of the housing, wherein: The antenna has a common outer conductor and respectively has inner conductors (105, 106), the inner conductors respectively having dielectric sheaths (107, 108), and wherein the two inner conductors and their dielectric sheaths respectively extend through the opening of the housing, and the two inner conductors are electrically connected to the circuit board.

3. A telematics receiving unit (100) comprising a circuit board (101), a housing (102), and two antennas (103, 104) for GNSS signals arranged superimposed on the outside of the housing, wherein: The antenna has a common outer conductor and respectively has an inner conductor (105, 106), wherein the two inner conductors are arranged spaced apart in a common dielectric sheath (107), and the inner conductors and their dielectric sheaths extend through an opening of the housing and are electrically connected to the circuit board.

4. A telematics receiving unit (100) comprising a circuit board (101), a housing (102), and two antennas (103, 104) for GNSS signals arranged superimposed on the outside of the housing, wherein: The two antennas each have an outer conductor and each have an inner conductor (105, 106) with a dielectric sheath (107, 108), wherein the two inner conductors and their dielectric sheaths each extend through the opening of the housing, and the two inner conductors are electrically connected to the circuit board.

5. The telematics receiving unit (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The inner conductor is arranged eccentrically in the dielectric sheath.

6. The telematics receiving unit (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The antenna (103, 104) is fixed to the outside of the housing using an adhesive layer.

7. The telematics receiving unit (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The circuit board (101) has at least one metal spring contact element, and the inner conductors (105, 106) are electrically connected to the metal spring contact element.

8. The telematics receiving unit (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The housing wall (102) is formed inwardly at the opening, and the formation constitutes a part of the outer conductor of the antenna.

9. The telematics receiving unit (100) according to claim 7, wherein: The printed circuit board has a flexible contact element, and the formed housing wall is electrically connected to the printed circuit board by means of the flexible contact element.

10. The telematics receiving unit (100) according to claim 8, wherein: The flexible contact element has a metal spring contact, an elastic conductive polymer or an elastic metallized polymer.

11. The telematics receiving unit (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The dielectric sheaths (107, 108) of the antennas (103, 104) and the openings in the housing wall (102) are designed in a form-fitting manner so that the antennas can only be arranged at predetermined locations on the housing of the telematics receiving unit.

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