Control unit for receiving and processing radio signals in a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a control unit (100) for receiving and processing radio signals in a vehicle (1300). The control unit (100) comprises a housing (103), a main circuit board (205) arranged in the housing (103) and having at least one contact surface (218), and an antenna (107). The antenna (107) has an antenna surface (119) arranged on a top surface (108) of the housing (103) and a connection contact (221) with at least one spring-elastic contact finger (223) that contacts a contact surface (218) of the main circuit board (205). The antenna surface (119) and the connection contact (221) are formed in one piece from a metal sheet.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a control unit for receiving and processing radio signals in a vehicle.

[0002] Today, many vehicles are equipped to communicate with satellites, communication networks, traffic infrastructure, and / or other vehicles using radio waves, for example, via mobile communications, satellite communication, or WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network). V2X communication is gaining increasing importance. Also known as Vehicle-to-Everything Communication, Car2X Communication, or Car-to-X Communication, V2X communication enables the exchange of information and data between participants in the V2X communication network. Participants in V2X communication are primarily road users and traffic infrastructure.Communication between participants in V2X communication takes place via radio signals, which are exchanged between participants, for example, using ITS-G5 / DSRC (abbreviation for Dedicated Short Range Communication) or in a mobile network, for example via PC5 or Uu interfaces.

[0003] To communicate using radio waves, a vehicle requires a suitable transmitter, receiver, and / or a combined transmitter / receiver unit, which includes an antenna for sending and / or receiving radio signals. Services such as mobile communications, satellite broadcasting, and Wi-Fi differ primarily in the radio frequencies they use and therefore require different antennas. To utilize several of these services, a vehicle also needs multiple antennas, installation space for the antennas, and components for processing the radio signals received by the antennas.

[0004] DE 10 2012 016 862 A1 describes a camera for a motor vehicle, with a housing for installation in and / or on the motor vehicle, with a lens which is arranged on and / or in the housing, with a communication device for wireless communication with an external device, wherein the communication device has an antenna which is designed to transmit and / or receive electromagnetic communication signals, wherein the antenna is arranged on a surface of the housing.

[0005] The invention is based on the objective of providing a device for sending and / or receiving radio signals in a vehicle, which is improved in particular with regard to installation space.

[0006] The problem is solved according to the invention by a control unit with the features of claim 1 and a vehicle with the features of claim 12.

[0007] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0008] The problem is solved according to the invention by a control unit for receiving and processing radio signals in a vehicle, the control unit comprising: - a case, - a main circuit board arranged in the housing and having at least one contact surface, and - an antenna comprising an antenna surface arranged on a top surface of the housing and a connecting contact with at least one spring-elastic contact finger that touches a contact surface of the main circuit board, wherein - the antenna surface and the connection contact are formed in one piece from a metal sheet.

[0009] According to the invention, at least one antenna is integrated into a vehicle control unit designed for processing radio signals. Integrating the antenna into the control unit allows for a space-saving and cost-effective design of both the control unit and the antenna, since the control unit and the antenna are not designed as separate components.

[0010] Furthermore, the antenna surface of this antenna is located on the top of a housing. This placement improves the reception of radio waves by the antenna compared to placing the antenna surface inside the housing or on a bottom or side surface of the housing, for example, when the top of the housing is located below the roof of the vehicle, because the radio waves received by the antenna are then less attenuated or disrupted by the housing.

[0011] Furthermore, the antenna surface and its connecting contact, including at least one spring-loaded contact finger that touches a contact surface on the main circuit board, are formed in one piece from a single sheet of metal. This simplifies antenna manufacturing and increases its robustness compared to separate designs for the antenna surface, the connecting contact, and / or at least one contact element for connecting the connecting contact to the main circuit board, as no electrical connections between the antenna surface, the connecting contact, and the contact element are required. Therefore, such connections cannot be damaged or impaired for other reasons, such as contamination or aging. Forming the antenna surface from a single sheet of metal also allows it to be designed flat and thus more compact.

[0012] The spring-like design of the contact finger advantageously allows for the compensation of slight displacements between the connection contact and the main circuit board, for example, due to thermal expansion and contraction. Furthermore, the spring-like design of the contact finger facilitates the connection of the connection contact and a contact surface of the main circuit board, as precise positioning of the connection contact and the contact surface relative to each other is not required for the connection.

[0013] In one embodiment of the control unit according to the invention, the metal sheet is made of spring bronze, chromium-nickel steel, or stainless steel. These materials have proven to be particularly suitable for the antenna design.

[0014] In a further embodiment of the control unit according to the invention, the antenna surface is arranged flush with the surface and in a form-fitting manner within a recess in the top of the housing. Due to the flush arrangement of the antenna surface in the recess of the top, the top of the housing and the antenna surface together form a flat upper surface of the housing. The form-fitting arrangement of the antenna surface in the recess prevents displacement of the antenna relative to the main circuit board.

[0015] In a further embodiment of the control unit according to the invention, the recess in the upper surface of the housing, in which the antenna surface is arranged, is partially open. This makes it possible, in particular, to guide the antenna's connection contact through the recess into the interior of the housing to the main circuit board.

[0016] In a further embodiment of the control unit according to the invention, the housing of the control unit is made of plastic and the antenna is molded into the plastic. This enables a positive connection of the antenna to the housing already during the manufacture of the housing, for example by casting the antenna into the housing during injection molding of the housing.

[0017] In a further embodiment of the control unit according to the invention, an outer surface of the antenna is electrically passivated. For example, the outer surface of the antenna is provided with a protective coating, a protective film, or an adhesive shield for this purpose. This protects the outer surface of the antenna, for example from contamination or corrosion, without impairing the electrical properties of the antenna.

[0018] In a further embodiment of the control unit according to the invention, each elastic contact finger and the contact surface on the main circuit board touched by the contact finger have highly conductive coatings. The coatings are, for example, made of tin or gold. This improves the quality of the electrical connection between the antenna and the contact surface on the main circuit board.

[0019] In a further embodiment of the control unit according to the invention, the main circuit board has an elastic contact element for at least one contact finger, the surface of which forms the contact area touched by the contact finger. The elastic contact element further increases the flexibility of the connection between the antenna and the main circuit board.

[0020] In a further embodiment of the control unit according to the invention, the antenna has a parasitic element that is electrically separated from the antenna surface.

[0021] A parasitic element of an antenna is a passive element of the antenna that is excited by electromagnetic coupling from electromagnetic fields generated by the antenna surface. A parasitic element itself generates electromagnetic fields that are superimposed on the electromagnetic fields of the antenna surface. By appropriately shaping and arranging a parasitic element, the directional characteristics and frequency spectrum of transmitted and / or received electromagnetic radiation from an antenna can be influenced.

[0022] In a further embodiment of the control unit according to the invention, an antenna surface for at least one further antenna is arranged on the top of the control unit's housing. This allows the top of the housing to be used for the antenna surfaces of several antennas.

[0023] In a further embodiment of the control unit according to the invention, an antenna surface of at least one further antenna is arranged on a side surface of the housing of the control unit. This also allows a side surface of the housing to be used for at least one antenna surface of an antenna.

[0024] The problem is further solved by a vehicle with a control unit according to the invention, which is arranged close to a roof surface of the vehicle, such that the upper side of the control unit's housing faces the roof surface. By arranging the control unit close to a roof surface of the vehicle, the attenuation or interference of radio waves by the control unit's antenna from vehicle components is largely avoided. The further advantages of a vehicle according to the invention result from the advantages of a control unit according to the invention mentioned above.

[0025] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. These show: Fig. 1 a top view of a first embodiment of a control unit according to the invention, Fig. 2 a first sectional view of the in Fig. 1 of the control unit shown, Fig. 3 a second sectional view of the in Fig. 1 of the control unit shown, Fig. 4 a sectional view of a second embodiment of a control unit according to the invention, Fig. 5 a sectional view of a third embodiment of a control unit according to the invention, Fig. 6 a sectional view of a fourth embodiment of a control unit according to the invention, Fig. 7 a sectional view of a fifth embodiment of a control unit according to the invention, Fig. 8 a top view of a sixth embodiment of a control device according to the invention, Fig. 9 a sectional view of the in Fig. 8 control units shown, Fig. 10 a top view of a seventh embodiment of a control device according to the invention, Fig. 11 a sectional view of the in Fig. 10 control units shown, Fig. 12 a sectional view of an eighth embodiment of a control unit according to the invention, Fig. 13 schematically an embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention.

[0026] Corresponding parts in the figures are labelled with the same reference symbols. For better understanding, a Cartesian coordinate system with coordinates x, y, z is shown in each figure.

[0027] Fig. 1 ( Fig. 1) Fig. 2 ( Fig. 2) and Fig. 3 ( Fig. 3) show a first embodiment of a control unit 100 according to the invention for receiving and processing radio signals in a vehicle. Fig. Figure 1 shows a top view of the control unit 100. Fig. Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the control unit 100 in a first section plane. Fig. Figure 3 shows a sectional view of the control unit 100 in a second section plane perpendicular to the first section plane. The control unit 100 comprises a housing 103, a main circuit board 205, and an antenna 107.

[0028] The housing 103 comprises a lower housing part 209 and an upper housing part 210. The lower housing part 209 forms a bottom surface 211 of the housing 103 and lower sections of the side surfaces 213 of the housing 103 projecting from the bottom surface 211. The upper housing part 210 forms upper sections of the side surfaces 213 of the housing 103 and a top surface 108 of the housing 103.

[0029] The lower housing part 209, for example, is made of metal. This allows for good heat dissipation from the housing 103. Furthermore, the metal construction enables a particularly robust design for the lower housing part 209. The upper housing part 210, for example, is made of plastic. Unlike, for example, a metal upper housing part 210, the plastic construction prevents the upper housing part 210 from electrically shielding radio waves.

[0030] The main circuit board 205 is arranged in the housing 103. The main circuit board 205 is connected to the underside 211 of the housing 103 by supports 217. The supports 217 can be part of the lower housing section 209. Among other things, electrical components (not shown) for processing radio signals are arranged on the main circuit board 205. Furthermore, the main circuit board 205 has a contact surface 218 via which the main circuit board 205 and its electrical components can be electrically connected.

[0031] The antenna 107 is formed in one piece from a sheet of metal. This sheet of metal is made, for example, of spring bronze, chromium-nickel steel, or stainless steel. The antenna 107 has an antenna surface 119 and a connection contact 221 with a spring-loaded contact finger 223.

[0032] The antenna surface 119 is flush with the surface and positively engaged in a recess 225 of the top surface 108 of the housing 103. The connecting contact 221 is angled at a right angle to the antenna surface 119 and projects through an opening 127 in the recess 225 into the interior of the housing 103, the interior of the housing 103 being the space enclosed by the housing 103. The contact finger 223 forms the end of the connecting contact 221 facing away from the antenna surface 119. The contact finger 223 extends to the main circuit board 205 and contacts the contact surface 218 of the main circuit board 205, thereby electrically connecting the antenna 107 to the contact surface 218.

[0033] The antenna 107 is attached to the upper housing part 210 by hot-stitching. For this purpose, the upper housing part 210 has cylindrical rivets 329 that project from the bottom of the recess 225 and each pass through a corresponding opening 331 in the antenna surface 119. The ends of the rivets 329 protruding from the openings 331 are hot-stitched by force and heat to form rivet heads 133, which hold the antenna surface 119 securely and positively in the recess 225.

[0034] Alternatively to the one in the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. In the embodiment of the control unit 100 shown in Figure 3, the depth of the recess 225 of the top surface 108 of the housing 103 can also be greater than the thickness of the antenna surface 119, so that the outer surfaces of the rivet heads 133 are flush with the top surface of the housing top part 210.

[0035] Fig. 4 ( Fig. 4) shows one to Fig. Figure 2 shows an analogous sectional view of a second embodiment of a control unit 100 according to the invention for receiving and processing radio signals in a vehicle. The control unit 100 again comprises a housing 103, a main circuit board 205, and an antenna 107.

[0036] The in Fig. The embodiment of a control unit 100 shown in Figure 4 differs from the one shown in the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. The embodiment shown in Figure 3 is essentially distinguished by the fact that an outer surface of the antenna surface 119 is electrically passivated. The electrical passivation of the outer surface of the antenna surface 119 is achieved by a protective coating 433 on the outer surface of the antenna surface 119. The protective coating 433 is, for example, a protective lacquer, a protective film, or an adhesive label that, for example, displays a type and / or data of the control unit 100. Furthermore, the outer surface of the protective coating 433 is flush with the upper surface of the housing top part 210.

[0037] Antenna 107 is located at the Fig. 4 shown embodiment of a control unit 100 according to the invention by hot riveting to the housing upper part 210 as in the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. 3 shown in the embodiment. The rivet heads 133 of the rivets 329 are enclosed by the protective coating 433 and are therefore in Fig. 4 not visible.

[0038] Fig. 5 ( Fig. 5) shows a Fig. Figure 2 shows an analogous sectional view of a third embodiment of a control unit 100 according to the invention for receiving and processing radio signals in a vehicle. The control unit 100 again comprises a housing 103, a main circuit board 205, and an antenna 107.

[0039] The in Fig. The embodiment of a control unit 100 shown in Figure 5 differs from the one shown in the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. The embodiment shown in Figure 3 differs essentially only in that one end of the elastic contact finger 223, which touches the contact surface 218 on the main circuit board 205, has a highly conductive coating 535, and the contact surface 218 on the main circuit board 205, which is touched by the contact finger, has a highly conductive coating 537. The coatings 535 and 537 are, for example, made of tin or gold, respectively.

[0040] Fig. 6 ( Fig. 6) shows one to Fig. Figure 2 shows an analogous sectional view of a fourth embodiment of a control unit 100 according to the invention for receiving and processing radio signals in a vehicle. The control unit 100 again comprises a housing 103, a main circuit board 205, and an antenna 107.

[0041] The in Fig. The embodiment of a control unit 100 shown in Figure 6 differs from the one shown in the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. The embodiment shown in Figure 3 differs essentially only in that the main circuit board 205 has an elastic contact element 639 for the contact finger 223, the surface of which forms the contact area 218 touched by the contact finger 223. The contact element 639 has an elastic core, which is made, for example, of silicone, and a flexible, electrically conductive coating.

[0042] Fig. 7 ( Fig. 7) shows one to Fig. 2 Analog sectional view of a fifth embodiment of a control unit 100 according to the invention for receiving and processing radio signals in a vehicle. The control unit 100 again comprises a housing 103, a main circuit board 205 and an antenna 107.

[0043] The in Fig. The embodiment of a control unit 100 shown in Figure 7 differs from the one shown in the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. The embodiment shown in Figure 3 differs essentially only in that the antenna surface 119 is molded into the housing top part 210 of the housing 103, which is made of a plastic. More precisely, an edge region of the antenna surface 119 is molded into the plastic of the housing top part 210. For example, the edge region of the antenna surface 119 is overmolded with the plastic during injection molding of the housing top part 210.

[0044] Fig. 8 ( Fig. 8) and Fig. 9 ( Fig. 9) show a sixth embodiment of a control unit 100 according to the invention for receiving and processing radio signals in a vehicle. Fig. Figure 8 shows a top view of the control unit 100. Fig. 9 shows one to Fig. 2. Analog sectional view of the control unit 100. The control unit 100 in turn comprises a housing 103, a main circuit board 205 and an antenna 107.

[0045] The in the Fig. 8 and Fig. The embodiment of a control unit 100 shown in Figure 9 differs from the one shown in the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. 3 embodiment shown in that the antenna 107 has a parasitic element 841 which is electrically separated from the antenna surface 119.

[0046] The parasitic element 841 is also formed from a metal sheet and is arranged flush with the surface and in a form-fitting manner in a second recess 943 of the upper surface 108 of the housing 103. The parasitic element 841, like the antenna surface 119, is attached to the upper part of the housing 210 by hot-stitching.

[0047] At the in Fig. 8 and Fig. In the embodiment of a control unit 100 according to the invention shown in Figure 9, the parasitic element 841 is L-shaped with two legs, each running parallel to an edge of the antenna surface 119. In alternative embodiments, the parasitic element 841 can be shaped differently, for example, rectangular or meandering. Furthermore, the parasitic element 841 can have a terminal contact that is electrically connected to an electrical contact of the main circuit board 205, for example, to a ground contact, through which the parasitic element 841 is connected to a ground potential. The terminal contact of the parasitic element 841 is, for example, designed analogously to the terminal contact 221 of the antenna surface 119.

[0048] Fig. 10 ( Fig. 10) and Fig. 11 ( Fig. Figure 11) shows a seventh embodiment of a control unit 100 according to the invention for receiving and processing radio signals in a vehicle. Fig. Figure 10 shows a top view of the control unit 100. Fig. 11 shows one to Fig. 2. Analog sectional view of the control unit 100. The control unit 100 comprises a housing 103, a main circuit board 205, a first antenna 107 and a second antenna 1045.

[0049] The in the Fig. 10 and Fig. The embodiment of a control unit 100 shown in Figure 11 differs from the one shown in the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. 3. The second antenna 1045 is shown in the embodiment. The antenna 1045 is designed and arranged analogously to the first antenna 107: - the antenna 1045 is formed in one piece from a sheet of metal and has an antenna surface 1047 and a connection contact 1149 with a spring-elastic contact finger 1151, - the antenna surface 1047 is arranged flush with the surface and in a form-fitting manner in a second recess 943 of the top surface 108 of the housing 103, - the connecting contact 1149 is angled at a right angle from the antenna surface 1047 and protrudes through an opening 1053 of the recess 943 into the interior of the housing 103, - the contact finger 1151 forms the end of the connection contact 1149 facing away from the antenna surface 1047, extends to the main circuit board 205 and touches a second contact surface 1155 of the main circuit board 205.

[0050] The antennas 107, 1045 differ from each other only in the dimensions of their antenna surfaces 119, 1047 and thus in the frequencies of radio waves for which they have a high sensitivity.

[0051] The antenna surface 1047 of the second antenna 1045 is attached to the upper part of the housing 210 by hot welding, just like the antenna surface 119 of the first antenna 107.

[0052] Fig. 12 ( Fig. 12) shows one to Fig. Figure 2 shows an analogous sectional view of an eighth embodiment of a control unit 100 according to the invention for receiving and processing radio signals in a vehicle. The control unit 100 comprises a housing 103, a main circuit board 205, a first antenna 107, and a second antenna 1257.

[0053] The in Fig. The embodiment of a control unit 100 shown in Figure 12 differs from the one shown in the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. 3 embodiment shown by the second antenna 1257.

[0054] The antenna 1257 is formed in one piece from a sheet of metal and has an antenna surface 1259 and a connecting contact 1261 with a contact finger 1263. The antenna surface 1259 is flush with the surface and positively engaged in a recess 1265 of a side surface 213 of the housing 103 on the lower part 209 of the housing. The connecting contact 1261 is angled at a right angle to the antenna surface 1259 and projects through an opening 1267 in the recess 1265 into the interior of the housing 103. The contact finger 1263 forms the end of the connection contact 1261 facing away from the antenna surface 1259, extends to the main circuit board 205 and touches an elastic contact element 1269 of the main circuit board 205. The contact element 1269 has an elastic core, which is made, for example, of a silicone, and a flexible, electrically conductive coating against which the contact finger 1263 rests.

[0055] The antenna 1257 is attached to the lower housing part 209 by hot riveting. For this purpose, the lower housing part 209 has cylindrical rivets that protrude from the bottom of the recess 1265 and each pass through a corresponding opening in the antenna surface 1259. The ends of the rivets protruding from the openings are hot riveted by force and heat to form rivet heads 1271, which hold the antenna surface 1259 securely and positively in the recess 1265.

[0056] Fig. 13 ( Fig. Figure 13) schematically shows an embodiment of a vehicle 1300 according to the invention. The vehicle 1300 has a control unit 100, which, according to one of the provisions based on the Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5, Fig. 6, Fig. 7, Fig. 8, Fig. 9, Fig. 10, Fig. 11 to Fig.12 described embodiments and is arranged close to a roof surface 1301 of the vehicle 1300, so that the top 108 of the housing 103 of the control unit 100 faces the roof surface 1301. Reference symbol list 100 control unit 103 cases 107 Antenna 108 Top 119 antenna area 127 Breakthrough 133 Rivet head 205 Main circuit board 209 Lower housing part 210 Housing top 211 Underside 213 side surface 217 support 218 Contact area 221 Connection contact 223 contact fingers 225 In-depth study 329 rivets 331 Opening 433 Protective coating 535, 537 conductive coating 639 elastic contact element 841 parasitic element 943 In-depth study 1045 Antenna 1047 antenna area 1053 Breakthrough 1149 Connection contact 1151 contact fingers 1155 contact area 1257 Antenna 1259 antenna area 1261 Connection contact 1263 contact fingers 1265 In-depth study 1267 Breakthrough 1269 elastic contact element 1271 Rivet head 1300 vehicles 1301 Roof area x, y, z Cartesian coordinate

Claims

[1] Control unit (100) for receiving and processing radio signals in a vehicle (1300), the control unit (100) comprising: - a case (103), - a main circuit board (205) arranged in the housing (103) and having at least one contact surface (218), and - an antenna (107) comprising an antenna surface (119) arranged on a top surface (108) of the housing (103) and a connecting contact (221) with at least one spring-elastic contact finger (223) which touches a contact surface (218) of the main circuit board (205), wherein - the antenna surface (119) and the connection contact (221) are formed in one piece from a metal sheet. [2] Control unit (100) according to claim 1, wherein the metal sheet is made of spring bronze, chromium-nickel steel or stainless steel. [3] Control unit (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the antenna surface (119) is arranged flush with the surface and in a form-fitting manner in a recess (225) of the top (108) of the housing (103). [4] Control unit (100) according to claim 3, wherein the recess (225) is partially perforated. [5] Control unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (103) is made of plastic and the antenna (107) is molded into the plastic. [6] Control unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an outer surface of the antenna surface (119) is electrically passivated. [7] Control unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one elastic contact finger (223) and the contact surface (218) touched by the contact finger (223) on the main circuit board (205) have highly conductive coatings (535, 537). [8] Control unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the main circuit board (205) has an elastic contact element (639) for at least one contact finger (223), the surface of which forms the contact surface (218) touched by the contact finger (223). [9] Control unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the antenna (107) has a parasitic element (841) which is electrically separated from the antenna surface (119). [10] Control unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an antenna surface (1047) of at least one further antenna (1045) is arranged on the top (108) of the housing (103). [11] Control unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an antenna surface (1259) of at least one further antenna (1257) is arranged on a side surface (213) of the housing (103). [12] Vehicle (1300) with a control unit (100) designed according to one of the preceding claims, which is arranged close to a roof surface (1301) of the vehicle (1300), so that the top (108) of the housing (103) of the control unit (100) faces the roof surface (1301).

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