Antenna for telematics receiver unit

Abstract

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

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a telematics receiver unit with a housing. Such a device can be used, for example, in motor vehicles to enable radio connections of the motor vehicle using various radio standards.

[0002] Modern motor vehicles are equipped with a variety of networking technologies. These enable the vehicle's connectivity with the outside world, for example, via mobile communications (e.g., 3G, 4G, or 5G) or so-called V2X (Vehicle-to-X) wireless technologies. Vehicle positioning can be enabled via satellite-based positioning systems, such as GPS (Global Positioning System). A telematics receiver unit acts as a central connectivity gateway.

[0003] Antenna units for vehicles, as well as vehicles with antenna units, are already known from the prior art. For example, EP 2 317 603 A1 discloses a multi-standard antenna module for traffic telematics systems in which several individual antennas are arranged in an antenna housing.

[0004] Known telematics receiver units have antennas located outside a shielded housing. The antenna is connected through an opening in the housing wall using a connector. The connector can be a molded part or a short RF cable. In either case, the connector requires an additional electrical connection, which can be a soldered, crimped, or plug-in connection. An additional connection not only requires additional assembly effort, but, like any electrical connection, also compromises the reliability of the overall system—in this case, the telematics receiver unit.

[0005] It is an object of the present disclosure to simplify the design of a telematics receiver unit. This simplification leads to lower manufacturing costs and greater reliability for the receiver unit.

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

[0007] Embodiments for a receiving unit with two antennas are described in the independent claims. Claims 2 and 3 describe two antennas arranged one above the other, and claim 4 describes two antennas arranged side by side for a receiving unit. Further advantageous embodiments are contained in the dependent claims and the following description in conjunction with the figures.

[0008] According to claim 1 ff, a telematics receiving unit with a housing is proposed.

[0009] The housing is made of metal or plastic with a conductive surface for shielding purposes.

[0010] The telematics receiver unit comprises a first circuit board within the housing, on which an electronic receiver unit is arranged. This receiver unit processes signals from satellite-based positioning systems of the GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System). These signals come from an antenna arranged on the outside of the receiver unit's housing. For example, the antenna is glued to the housing using an adhesive layer and / or attached to the housing with a locking mechanism.

[0011] The antenna has an electrical connection with an inner conductor and an outer conductor. The outer conductor is electrically connected to the housing of the telematics receiver unit. The inner conductor is electrically insulated from the outer conductor by a dielectric sheath and has a defined characteristic impedance, for example, 50 ohms.

[0012] The dielectric sheath comprises a low-loss dielectric material, for example polymers such as Teflon (PTFE), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS), polyamide (PA) or ceramic material or one of the above-mentioned polymers with ceramic fillers.

[0013] The inner conductor and the dielectric sheath are guided into the interior of the receiving unit through an opening in the housing wall. Preferably, the housing wall is shaped inward at the edge of the opening and forms the outer conductor.

[0014] The molded housing wall is connected to the circuit board of the receiving unit via a flexible contact element. The flexible contact element is arranged on the circuit board and can be a spring contact, an elastic polymer pad with a conductive surface, or an elastic pad made of a conductive polymer.

[0015] The inner conductor is electrically connected to the circuit board of the receiving unit via a plug connection. The inner conductor forms one part of the plug connection. The other part of the plug connection is located on the circuit board and can be secured against accidental disconnection with a spring-loaded contact tongue.

[0016] Fig. 1 shows a lateral cross-section with two antennas (103, 104) arranged one above the other on the housing (102) of a telematics receiving unit (100).

[0017] Each antenna has an inner conductor (105, 106) with a dielectric sheath (107, 108). The inner conductors with sheaths are each guided through an opening into the interior of the housing. The inner conductors lead without interruption and without extension to a circuit board (101) in the receiving unit, where they are electrically connected to the circuit board.

[0018] The outer conductors of the antennas are formed by metallic sections of the antenna bodies. By directly arranging the antenna bodies one above the other and on the metallic housing of the receiving unit, the outer conductor is transferred to the housing. At the edge of the housing openings, the housing wall is shaped inward (109) and extends to the circuit board inside the receiving unit. The shaped housing wall encloses the dielectric sheath of the inner conductors and forms the common outer conductor. Flexible contact elements (110) are arranged on the circuit board, electrically connecting the outer conductor to the circuit board.

[0019] The Fig. 2a - 2c show top views of the openings in the housing of the receiving unit with the inner conductors (105, 106), each enclosed by a dielectric sheath (107, 108). The inner conductors run off-center in the dielectric sheath.

[0020] Fig. 2b shows the basic form, the Fig. 2a and Fig. 2c show exemplary designs with anti-twist protection, which allows the two antennas to be placed only in a predetermined position and thus prevents the two inner conductors from being connected incorrectly.

[0021] The anti-twist protection can be achieved by a shaped connecting bridge between both dielectric sheaths ( Fig. 2a) or by different outer contours of the dielectric sheaths ( Fig. 2c). Both variants require a corresponding design of the housing openings. List of reference symbols 100 receiving units 101 Circuit Board 102 housings 103, 104 antenna 105, 106 inner conductor 107, 108 dielectric sheath 109 molded housing wall 110 flexible contact element QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 2 317 603 A1

[0003]

Claims

[1] Telematics receiving unit (100) with a circuit board (101), a housing (102), and a first antenna (104) for GNSS signals arranged outside the housing, wherein the antenna for signal transmission has an outer conductor and an inner conductor (105) with a dielectric sheath (107), and wherein the inner conductor and the dielectric sheath extend through an opening in the housing and the inner conductor is electrically connected to the circuit board. [2] Telematics receiving unit (100) according to claim 1, comprising a second antenna (103) for GNSS signals, which is arranged outside the housing on the first antenna (104), wherein the two antennas have a common outer conductor and each have an inner conductor (105, 106), wherein the two inner conductors are arranged at a distance in a common dielectric sheath (107), and the two inner conductors with the dielectric sheath extend through a common opening in the housing and are electrically connected to the circuit board. [3] Telematics receiving unit (100) according to claim 1, comprising a second antenna (103) for GNSS signals, which is arranged outside the housing on the first antenna (104), wherein the two antennas each have an outer conductor and an inner conductor (105, 106) with a dielectric sheath (107, 108), and wherein both inner conductors with their dielectric sheath each extend through an opening in the housing and the two inner conductors are electrically connected to the circuit board. [4] Telematics receiving unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an inner conductor is arranged off-center in a dielectric sheath. [5] Telematics receiving unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an antenna (103, 104) is attached to the outside of the housing with an adhesive layer. [6] Telematics receiving unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the circuit board (101) has at least one metallic spring contact element and an inner conductor (105, 106) is electrically connected to the metallic spring contact element. [7] Telematics receiving unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing wall (102) is formed inwardly at the opening and the formation forms part of the outer conductor of an antenna. [8] Telematics receiving unit (100) according to claim 7, wherein the circuit board has a flexible contact element and the molded housing wall with the flexible contact element is electrically connected to the circuit board. [9] Telematics receiving unit (100) according to claim 8, wherein the flexible contact element comprises a metallic spring contact, an elastic conductive polymer or an elastic metallized polymer. [10] Telematics receiving unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the dielectric sheath (107, 108) of an antenna (103, 104) and an opening in the housing wall (102) are designed in a form-fitting manner such that the antenna can only be arranged in a predetermined position on the housing of the telematics receiving unit.

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