Transparent antenna module for vehicle

Abstract

This transparent antenna module for a vehicle comprises: a flexible substrate disposed in an opaque region of a glass panel and having a metal pad disposed on a first portion and a feeding line disposed on a second portion spaced apart from the first portion; an antenna area disposed in a transparent region of the glass panel; a cable including a signal line, a first conductor unit formed to surround the signal line, a dielectric unit formed to surround the first conductor unit, and a ground line formed to surround the dielectric unit; and a connector which is coated with a metal material, coupled to a lower end portion of the ground line of the cable, and formed to have a first length in one axis direction of the flexible substrate and a first width in the other axis direction perpendicular to the one axis direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicular transparent antenna module. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a vehicular high-durability transparent antenna module.Background Art

[0002] As technology advances from 4G LTE communication to 5G communication, vehicular antennas continuously require expansion of supported networks from existing FM / AM antennas and LTE antennas to 5G antennas or V2X antennas.

[0003] In this context, an increase in communication frequency provides advantages in increasing communication performance and quality in terms of transmission and the amount of data transmitted and received. However, as the communication frequency increases, an obstacle in a signal propagation path may lead to signal loss. To minimize signal loss in the 5G band, materials with low dielectric constant and low dielectric loss are required.

[0004] In particular, vehicle antennas have various requirements that can not only improve antenna performance in terms of signal loss, but also support future high-speed communications. In this regard, there are various requirements for network scalability and design flexibility that do not compromise a unique vehicular design, ease of installation that enables vehicular mounting, and the like.

[0005] It is technically difficult to perform a junction process for connecting a flexible substrate on which a power-feeding line is arranged, and a rigid coaxial cable to each other. Thus, a proper connection cannot be reliably made, and errors and defects can occur, such as disconnection. In this context, signals cannot be properly transferred, thereby decreasing the performance of a transparent antenna.

[0006] The transparent antenna may be installed at various locations, such as a front glass pane, a rear glass pane, a side glass pane, a roof glass pane, a side mirror, and a front lamp. Therefore, the transparent antenna can be advantageously installed while maintaining a unique design and a communication-capable configuration. In contrast, the transparent antenna is configured using a film, thereby making it difficult to install the transparent antenna using an existing antenna manufacturing process. In addition, the connection is required to remain robust even under vehicular vibration conditions.Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[0007] One object of the present disclosure is to address the above-mentioned and other related problems. One object of the present disclosure is to propose a module structure and a protective cover structure that enable easy installation of a film-type transparent antenna for vehicular use, and that exhibit high durability applicable under vehicular environmental conditions.

[0008] Another object of the present disclosure is to simplify a method of connecting a transparent antenna and a cable, thereby reducing errors or defects that may occur during a connection process.

[0009] A further object of the present disclosure is to reduce errors or defects that may occur during a connection process, by forming a step in a cable connected to a flat power-feeding line.

[0010] Another object of the present disclosure is to prevent a reduction in signal performance of a transparent antenna by protecting an ACF bonding portion, that is, a connection between a power-feeding line and a cable, using a housing.

[0011] Still another object of the present disclosure is to prevent degradation of signal performance of an antenna by preventing signal interruption caused by a surrounding environment by coating a protective cover, such as a housing, with a metal film.

[0012] Yet another object of the present disclosure is to apply a vehicular high-durability transparent antenna module to vehicles supporting 5G communication, autonomous driving vehicles, and the like.Solution to Problem

[0013] In order to accomplish the above-mentioned and other related problems, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a vehicular transparent antenna module: a flexible substrate arranged on an opaque region of a glass panel, a metal pad being arranged on a first portion of the flexible substrate, and a power-feeding line being arranged on a second portion spaced apart from the first portion; an antenna region arranged in a transparent region of the glass panel; a cable including a signal line, a first conductor portion formed to surround the signal line, a dielectric portion formed to surround the first conductor portion, and a ground line formed to surround the dielectric portion; and a connector coated with a metal material, coupled to a lower end portion of the ground line of the cable, and formed to have a first length in one axial direction of the flexible substrate and a first width in the other second axial direction perpendicular to the one axial direction. Furthermore, the ground line of the cable and the metal pad arranged on the first portion of the flexible substrate are electrically connected to each other by the connector. Furthermore, the signal line at one end portion of the cable and the power-feeding line arranged on the second portion of the flexible substrate are connected to each other.

[0014] According to an embodiment, in the vehicular transparent antenna module, the flexible substrate and the cable may be arranged in an opaque region of an upper end portion of a front glass pane of a vehicle. Furthermore, a metal electrode layer in the antenna region may be arranged on the front glass pane. Furthermore, the cable may be arranged in one axial direction corresponding to a perpendicular axial direction of the opaque region.

[0015] According to an embodiment, in the vehicular transparent antenna module, the flexible substrate and the cable may be arranged in an opaque region of an upper end portion of a front glass pane of a vehicle. Furthermore, the flexible substrate may include a first region arranged between a first glass pane and a second glass pane of the glass panel, a second region arranged on a lateral surface of the first glass pane, and a third region arranged on a front surface of the first glass pane. Furthermore, a metal electrode layer in the antenna region may be arranged between the first glass pane and the second glass pane. Furthermore, the cable connected to the third region of the flexible substrate may be arranged in the other axial direction corresponding to a horizontal-axis direction of the opaque region.

[0016] According to an embodiment, in the vehicular transparent antenna module, the first portion of the flexible substrate may be formed as a ground region in which a metal pattern having a second length in the one axial direction and a second width in the other axial direction is formed. Furthermore, the first portion and the second portion of the flexible substrate may form a first surface of the flexible substrate. Furthermore, a second surface of the flexible substrate may be attached on the opaque region of the glass panel. Furthermore, the metal pattern is formed to have the second length greater than the first length and the second width greater than the first length.

[0017] According to an embodiment, in the vehicular transparent antenna module, a first cross section at a first point on the cable connected to the power-feeding line formed on the flexible substrate may be formed to include the signal line, the first conductor portion, the dielectric portion, and the power-feeding line. Furthermore, a second cross section at a second point on the cable arranged in the opaque region outside the flexible substrate may be formed to include the signal line, the first conductor portion, the dielectric portion, the ground line, and a second conductor portion.

[0018] According to an embodiment, the vehicular transparent antenna module may further include a housing including an upper structure, a first lower support portion, a second lower support portion, a first lateral-surface connection portion, and a second lateral-surface connection portion in such a manner that the cable is accommodated within an interior region of the housing. Furthermore, the housing may be formed to have a third length or greater in such a manner that, in the one axial direction, the housing covers the first portion and the second portion, and the housing may be formed to have a fourth length or smaller in such a manner that the housing is arranged in the opaque region. Furthermore, the housing may be formed to have a third width in the other axial direction, the third width being greater than the second width.

[0019] According to an embodiment, the vehicular transparent antenna module may further include a metal film integrally formed with an inner surface of the upper structure of the housing, an inner surface of the first lateral-surface connection portion, an inner surface of the second lateral surface connection portion, an inner surface of the first lower support portion, and an inner surface of the second lower support portion.

[0020] According to an embodiment, in the vehicular transparent antenna module, the metal film may be formed to have a thickness of 0.1 mm or greater to ensure shielding performance. Furthermore, the metal film may be formed to have a thickness of 2.0 mm or smaller in such a manner that signal loss of the signal line and signal loss of the power-feeding line are at or below a predetermined level.

[0021] According to an embodiment, in the vehicular transparent antenna module, the connector may be formed to have the first length that is equal to or greater than 0.25 times the diameter of the cable, in order to prevent damage when performing fixation during a soldering process. Furthermore, the connector may be formed to have the first length that is equal to or smaller than 1.5 times the diameter of the cable, in such a manner that signal interference between the signal line and the power-feeding line is at or below a predetermined level.

[0022] According to an embodiment, in the vehicular transparent antenna module, the connector may be formed to have the first width that is equal to or greater than 1.5 times the diameter of the cable, in order to ensure the fixation during the soldering process. Furthermore, the connector may be formed to have the first width that is equal to or smaller than three times the diameter of the cable, in such a manner that the signal interference between the signal line and the power-feeding line is at or below the predetermined level.

[0023] According to an embodiment, in the vehicular transparent antenna module, the connector may be formed to have a thickness of 100 µm or greater in order to prevent bending and damage during a process. Furthermore, the connector may be formed to have a thickness of 400 µm or smaller in such a manner that signal loss of the signal line and signal loss of the power-feeding line are at or below a predetermined level.

[0024] According to an embodiment, in the vehicular transparent antenna module, the metal material may be coated on the connector in such a manner as to have a thickness of 5 µm or greater to enable connection to the power-feeding line. Furthermore, the metal material may be coated on the connector in such a manner as to have a thickness of 50 µm or smaller in order to prevent a cold solder joint and to ensure electrical isolation from the metal film on an inner surface of the housing.

[0025] According to an embodiment, in the vehicular transparent antenna module, one end portion of the flexible substrate may be arranged at a boundary of the opaque region. Furthermore, the vehicular transparent antenna module may further include a cable holder that is arranged to be spaced apart by a predetermined distance from the other end portion of the flexible substrate so as to surround the cable, thereby fixing the cable.

[0026] According to an embodiment, in the vehicular transparent antenna module, a lower region of the housing may be formed to have a circular cross section with a first diameter in a manner that corresponds to a shape of the cable. Furthermore, a lower end portion of the housing may be formed to have a circular cross section with a second diameter in such a manner that the cable remains fixed by the cable holder. Further, the second diameter may be smaller than the first diameter.

[0027] According to an embodiment, the vehicular transparent antenna module may further include an adhesive layer formed of a non-conductive material and arranged between the metal film and the ground region in such a manner that the metal film is bonded to a ground region of the flexible substrate. Furthermore, an opening in the adhesive layer may be formed at positions corresponding to the first portion and the second portion, and the adhesive layer may be separated from the metal pad on the first portion of the flexible substrate and from the power-feeding line on the second portion thereof.

[0028] According to an embodiment, in the vehicular transparent antenna module, a third portion of the flexible substrate, the third portion being formed adjacent to a boundary between the transparent region and the opaque region, may be coupled to an end portion of an antenna region formed in the transparent region. Furthermore, the third portion may include the power-feeding line, and a first ground portion and a second ground portion that are arranged to be spaced apart from one side and the other side, respectively, of the power-feeding line.

[0029] According to an embodiment, in the vehicular transparent antenna module, the antenna region may include: a first adhesive layer attached to the transparent region of the glass panel; a metal electrode layer formed to be stacked on the first adhesive layer; and a transparent substrate layer formed to be stacked on the metal electrode layer. Furthermore, the power-feeding line in the third portion may be connected to an end portion of an antenna pattern on the metal electrode layer.

[0030] According to an embodiment, in the vehicular transparent antenna module, one end portion in the one axial direction of the first adhesive layer may be formed in a manner aligned with one end portion of the transparent substrate layer. Furthermore, the other end portion in the one axial direction of the first adhesive layer may be formed at a point positioned farther inward within the antenna region than the other end portion of the transparent substrate layer. Furthermore, the other end portion of the first adhesive layer may be arranged to be aligned with and in contact with a boundary of the third portion of the flexible substrate. Furthermore, the first adhesive layer may be formed to have a thickness that is equal to the sum of the thickness of the flexible substrate and the thickness of the power-feeding line on the third portion.

[0031] According to an embodiment, in the vehicular transparent antenna module, the glass panel may be a front glass pane arranged in a front region of a vehicle. Furthermore, a first antenna and a second antenna may be arranged in the antenna region corresponding to the transparent region of the front glass pane. Furthermore, the cable may include a first cable and a second cable that are connected to an end portion of the first antenna and an end portion of the second antenna, respectively.

[0032] According to an embodiment, in the vehicular transparent antenna module, the opaque region may be formed to have a first perpendicular length in a first region and a second region in a perpendicular axial direction of the front glass pane. Furthermore, the opaque region may be formed in a third region between the first region and the second region in such a manner as to have a second perpendicular length greater than the first perpendicular length. Furthermore, the first antenna and the second antenna may be arranged in the first region, and a third antenna and a fourth antenna may be arranged in the second region.Advantageous Effects of Invention

[0033] The technical effects of a vehicular high-durability transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure are described as follows.

[0034] According to the present disclosure, the vehicular transparent antenna module, which is capable of being arranged on a side glass pane, a front glass pane, a sunroof, a side mirror, and a headlamp, can be employed for 5G and V2X communications without being subject to the vehicular design constraints.

[0035] According to the present disclosure, a step can be formed in a junction portion of a cable connected to a flexible substrate on which a power-feeding line is formed, thereby simplifying a junction process and securely fixing the power-feeding line and the cable.

[0036] According to the present disclosure, by forming a step in the ground wire of the cable using the connector, the contact region with the power-feeding line can be broadened, and lead can be applied to the contact portion, thereby connecting the power-feeding line and the cable using less heat.

[0037] According to the present disclosure, an ACF bonding portion, the power-feeding line, and the cable that are susceptible to vibration and shock can be protected using a housing.

[0038] According to the present disclosure, a shielding structure of the interior of the housing can reduce noise caused by external signals and can reduce signal loss occurring between transmitted antenna signals.

[0039] According to the present disclosure, effects, such as process simplification, a reduction in defect occurrence, prevention of damage due to vehicle vibration or shock, and an improvement in signal performance can be achieved through the formation of a step in the cable and through the housing structure design.

[0040] The additional scope of applicability of the present specification will become apparent from the following detailed description. However, specific embodiments, such as preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, should be understood as merely illustrative embodiments, such that various alterations and modifications to these embodiments would be apparent, within the technical idea and scope of the present disclosure, to a person of ordinary skill in the art and should fall within the scope of the present disclosure.Brief Description of Drawings

[0041] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present description. FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the configuration of the vehicle according to the embodiment of the present description. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a vehicular glass pane that can be coupled to or attached to a frame of a vehicle. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a combined structure of the vehicular glass pane in FIG. 3 and the frame of the vehicle. FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a vehicular antenna assembly arranged in a transparent region and an opaque region of a vehicular glass pane and a connector structure. FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a vehicular transparent antenna module that is attached to a glass panel of the vehicle. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view illustrating the structure of a transparent substrate arranged in the transparent region and the opaque region of the glass panel in FIG. 6 and the structure of a flexible substrate having a cable attached thereto. FIG. 8 is a set of a combination view, an exploded view, and a cross-sectional view illustrating that a housing of the transparent antenna module, which has an on-glass structure, is arranged on a glass panel. FIG. 9 is a set of a combination view, an exploded view, and a cross-sectional view illustrating that the housing of the transparent antenna module, which has an in-glass structure, is arranged on the glass panel. FIGS. 10 to 12 are views, each illustrating the cable structure of the vehicular transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure. FIG. 13 is a set of views, each illustrating a process for attaching the cable of the transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure to a flexible substrate. FIG. 14 is a set of a front view illustrating that the cable fixed by a cable holder is coupled to a connector, a cross-sectional view taken along line AB, and a view illustrating dimensions of the connector. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a connection structure of the transparent antenna module, including a housing and a metal film on an inner surface of the housing, according to the present disclosure. FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view illustrating that, in the transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure, one end portion and the other end portion of the flexible substrate are connected to a stacking structure of an antenna region and to the cable, respectively. FIG. 17 is a view illustrating antennas arranged on the front glass pane of the vehicle. FIGS. 18A and 18B are views, each illustrating the transparent antenna module including first to fourth antennas in FIG. 17. FIG. 19 is a view illustrating a first cable structure connected to a metal pad on the flexible substrate without the connector and a second cable structure connected to the metal pad on the flexible substrate through the connector in the transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure. FIG. 20 is a graph illustrating a comparison of signal performance between the first cable structure and the second cable structure in FIG. 19. Mode for the Invention

[0042] Embodiments disclosed in the present specification will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The identical or similar constituent elements are represented by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions thereof are not omitted. The terms "module" and "unit" are hereinafter used interchangeably to name constituent elements solely for convenience of description in the present specification. These terms are not intended to have different meanings or to indicate different functions. In addition, in describing the embodiments disclosed in the present specification, detailed descriptions of well-known related technologies may be omitted when such descriptions are deemed to obscure the nature and gist of the present disclosure. In addition, the accompanying drawings are provided solely to aid understanding of the embodiment that is disclosed in the present specification, and the technical idea that is disclosed in the present specification is not limited to the accompanying drawings. All amendments, equivalents, and substitutions that fall within the scope of the technical idea behind the present disclosure are intended to be encompassed by the accompanying drawings.

[0043] The ordinal numbers first, second, and so forth may be used to describe various elements, but they do not limit these elements. These terms are used merely to distinguish among constituent elements having similar functions.

[0044] It should be understood that a constituent element, when referred to as "being connected to" or "having access to" a different constituent element, may be directly connected to or have direct access to the different constituent element, or may be indirectly connected to or have access to the different constituent element through one or more intermediate constituent elements. Likewise, it should be understood that, when a constituent element is described as being "connected to" or "having access to" another constituent element, such connection or access may be direct without the need for one or more intermediary constituent elements.

[0045] A noun in singular form, unless clearly indicated otherwise by the context, shall be understood to include the plural form.

[0046] The terms "include," "have," and equivalent expressions, as used in the present application, shall be understood to indicate the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, constituent element, component, or combination thereof, without precluding the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, constituent elements, components, or combinations thereof.

[0047] A transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure and a method of manufacturing the transparent antenna module will be described in detail below. In this regard, FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present description.

[0048] With reference to FIG. 1, a vehicle 1 may include at least one communication antenna. The vehicle 1 may transmit and / or receive signals in various frequency bands using the communication antenna. The vehicle 1 may perform communications, such as vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P), and vehicle-to-network (V2N).

[0049] The antenna may be configured with a substrate formed of a material, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and an antenna pattern formed on the substrate. For example, the antenna may be a transparent antenna.

[0050] The antenna may be arranged on a dielectric member of the vehicle 1. The antenna may be arranged on a glass pane of the vehicle 1. The antenna may be coupled or attached to a front glass pane 101, door glass panes 102 and 103, a quarter glass pane 104, a rear windshield (not illustrated), a side mirror (not illustrated), a sunroof 105, or a lamp glass pane 106. For example, the antenna may be a transparent antenna.

[0051] FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the configuration of the vehicle according to the embodiment of the present description. With reference to FIG. 2, the vehicle 1 may include an object detection device 410, a communication device 420, a user interface device 431, a driving operation device 432, a vehicle driving device 433, an operational system 434, a navigation system 435, a sensing unit 436, an interface unit 437, a memory 438, a power supply unit 439, and / or a control unit 440. Alternatively, the vehicle 1 may further include one or more constituent elements in addition to the above-mentioned constituent elements or may omit one or more of the above-mentioned constituent elements.

[0052] The object detection device 410 may be a device for detecting an object located outside the vehicle 1. For example, an object detection device 410 may include a processor 411, a camera 412, a radar 413, a LiDAR 414, an ultrasonic sensor 415, and / or an infrared sensor 416.

[0053] The communication device 420 may be a device for performing communication with an external device. The communication device 420 may include at least one of the following: a transmission antenna, a reception antenna, a radio frequency circuit, or an RF element. The transmission antenna and the reception antenna are used to perform communication. The radio frequency circuit and the RF element are capable of executing various communication protocols. For example, the communication device 420 may include a processor 421, a short-range communication unit 422, a position information unit 423, a V2X communication unit 424, an optical communication unit 425, a broadcast transceiver 426, and / or an ITS communication unit 427.

[0054] The user interface device 431 may be a device for enabling interaction between the vehicle 1 and a user. The vehicle 1 may provide a user interface (UI) or a user experience (UX) through the user interface device 431.

[0055] The driving operation device 432 may be a device that receives a user input for driving. The vehicle drive device 433 may be a device that electrically controls operation of various devices within the vehicle 1. The operational system 434 may be a system that controls various operations of the vehicle 1. The navigation system 435 may provide navigation information. The sensing unit 436 may sense the state of the vehicle 1.

[0056] The interface unit 437 may function as an interface for various types of external devices that are connected to the vehicle 1. The memory 438 may store basis data regarding units of the vehicle 1, control data for operational control of the units, input and output data, and the like. The power supply unit 439 may provide power necessary to operate the constituent elements. The control unit 440 may control overall operations of each unit within the vehicle 1. The control unit 440 may be configured as an electronic control unit (ECU) and / or a telematics control unit (TCU).

[0057] A vehicular glass pane on which a transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure is formed may be coupled to a frame of the vehicle. In this context, FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a vehicular glass pane that can be coupled to or attached to the frame of the vehicle. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a combined structure of the vehicular glass pane in FIG. 3 and the frame of the vehicle.

[0058] With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, a glass pane 10 or 10' may be coupled to or attached to a frame 9 of the vehicle and may cover an opening 9h in the frame 9. For example, the glass pane 10 or 10' may be a glass pane of the vehicle 1, such as the front glass pane 101, the door glass panes 102 and 103, the quarter glass pane 104, the rear windshield (not illustrated), the side mirror (not illustrated), the sunroof 105, or the lamp glass pane 106 (refer to FIG. 1).

[0059] A groove 9g in the frame 9 may extend along an edge of the glass pane 10 or 10' and may define a boundary of the opening 9h. For example, the frame 9 may be formed of a metal material, and a space between the groove 9g and the glass pane 10 or 10' may be filled with a sealant 7. The groove 9g may be formed to have a step at an internal boundary of the frame 9. The glass pane 10 having an opaque region 12 formed therein may be arranged in the groove 9g formed to have a step at an internal end portion of the frame 9. The arrangement of the glass pane 10 in the groove 9g makes the groove 9g appear not to have a step.

[0060] The antenna 20 may be positioned on one surface of the glass pane 10 or may be positioned inside the glass pane 10. The antenna 20 may be transparent. The antenna 20 may be flexible.

[0061] A connection module including a connector 10c may be positioned between an edge of the glass pane 10 or 10' and an antenna 20 and may be positioned on one surface of the glass pane 10 or 10'. The connector 10c of the connection module may be electrically connected to the antenna 20 through a substrate 30. An inner cover 8 may be opposite the glass pane 10 with respect to the frame 9 and may cover the connection module. The inner cover 8 may also be referred to as an interior cover 8. The connection module may be referred to as a connector device, a FAKRA jack part, or a connector assembly.

[0062] A vehicular antenna assembly, in which the transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure is enabled, may be arranged in a transparent region and an opaque region of the vehicular glass pane. In this context, FIG. 5 is a view illustrating the vehicular antenna assembly arranged in the transparent region and the opaque region of the vehicular glass pane and a connector structure.

[0063] With reference to FIG. 5, the glass pane 10 may include a transparent region 11 and an opaque region 12. The opaque region 12 may be a black mask region or a frit region. For example, the transparent region 11 may occupy most of the glass pane 10, and the opaque region 12 may be arranged adjacent to one edge of the glass pane 10. The transparent region 11 and the opaque region 12 may be formed to have an identical width W10, and a height H11 of the transparent region 11 may be greater than a height H12 of the opaque region 12.

[0064] The antenna 20 may be positioned on the transparent region 11 in a manner that is adjacent to a boundary between the transparent region 11 and the opaque region 12. The connection module, including the connector 10c, may be positioned on the opaque area 12, and the connector 10c of the connection module may be connected to the antenna 20 through a housing lower plate 111. The housing lower plate 111 is fastened to a housing upper plate 112 and may constitute a housing 110. The connector 10c may be accommodated inside the housing 110. The housing 110, inside which the connector 10c is accommodated, may be arranged in the opaque region 12. At least one portion of the connection module may also be positioned in the transparent region 11.

[0065] A high-durability transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure will be described below. In this context, FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the vehicular transparent antenna module that is attached to a vehicular glass panel. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view illustrating the structure of a transparent substrate arranged in the transparent region and the opaque region of the glass panel in FIG. 6 and the structure of a flexible substrate having a cable attached thereto.

[0066] The structure of the vehicular transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure is as illustrated in FIG. 6. An antenna region 1000 of the antenna module 1100 may be defined in a transparent region 11 of a glass panel 10. A flexible substrate 1200, forming a power-feeding region of the antenna module 1000, may be arranged in an opaque region 12 of the glass panel 10. A power-feeding line FL on the flexible substrate 1200 may be arranged in a black mask region, that is, the opaque region 12 of the glass panel 10, in a manner that is not visible from the outside.

[0067] The power-feeding line FL on the flexible substrate 1200 can be connected to a cable 100c having a predetermined length. The cable 100c may be formed as a coaxial cable, in which an internal conductor, serving as a signal line, and an external conductor, serving as a grounding line, are formed coaxially about a common axis. The cable 100c may be formed in such a manner that the length thereof ranges from 3 mm to 15 mm without being thereto. The length thereof may vary according to the application. The cable 100c connected to the power-feeding line FL is connected to a TCU 300 such that signals in a specific frequency band are transmitted and received.

[0068] With reference to FIG. 6, an on-glass type transparent antenna that is attached to a surface of the glass panel 10 of the vehicle is structured in such a manner as to be attached to the glass panel 10 of the vehicle using an optically clear adhesive (OCA). However, the vehicular antenna module according to the present disclosure is not limited to an on-glass type. Therefore, the transparent antenna module may be formed as an in-glass type in which a metal pattern, corresponding to an antenna element, is arranged between a first glass pane and a second glass pane.

[0069] The transparent antenna module has two connection portions at respective points for electrical connection. A first connection point on the transparent antenna module is a connection point at which the power-feeding line FL and the cable 100c are connected, and the cable 100c may be connected to the power-feeding line FL by soldering. The connection by soldering may give rise to a problem in that a disconnection occurs due to external shock. Therefore, this soldering connection, when subject to external shock, may result in electrical disconnection from the power-feeding line FL. Therefore, a soldering process is required for a connection between the power-feeding line FL and the cable 100c.

[0070] A second connection point on the transparent antenna module is a connection point at which a metal pad, that is, an end portion of the antenna pattern, and the power-feeding line FL are connected. The connection point between the metal pad, that is, the end portion of the antenna pattern, and the power-feeding line FL may be formed using an anisotropic conductive film junction. The first and second connection points on the transparent antenna module, when not provided with a separate fixation structure, may be subject to damage due to vibration or shock and, during an installation operation, may have an effect on antenna performance.

[0071] The first connection point on the vehicular transparent antenna module is as illustrated in FIG. 7. With reference to FIG. 7, the transparent antenna may be arranged in the antenna region 1100 of the antenna module 1000. A first antenna 1110 and a second antenna 1120 may be arranged in the antenna region 1100. An end portion of the first antenna 1110 may be connected to the flexible substrate 1200. An end portion of the second antenna 1120 may be connected to a second flexible substrate 1200b.

[0072] The flexible substrate 1200 may be configured to include a first portion P1, a second portion P2, and a third portion P3. A metal pad MP that is to be connected to the cable 100c may be formed in the first portion P1 of the flexible substrate 1200. The power-feeding line FL may be formed on the second portion P2 of the flexible substrate 1200. The third portion P3 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be connected to an end portion of the antenna region 1100. The power-feeding line FL on the second portion P2 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be formed to extend up to the third portion P3. Ground portions GP1 and GP2 may be formed on one side and the other side, respectively, of the power-feeding line FL on the third portion P3 of the flexible substrate 1200 in such a manner as to be spaced apart from the power-feeding line FL. The power-feeding line FL on the third portion P3 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be formed to have a co-planar waveguide (CPW) structure in which the ground portions GP1 and GP2 are formed on one side and the other side, respectively, thereof.

[0073] In a planar structure of the transparent antenna module, the power-feeding line FL is connected to the cable 100c, and the cable 100c is finally connected to the TCU. Accordingly, signals are transmitted and received along the power-feeding line FL. The process of connecting the rigid cable 100c to the film-type flexible substrate 1200, in which the power-feeding line FL is arranged, is difficult. The power-feeding line FL and the cable 100c may be connected to each other by the soldering process. A difference in electrical and thermal properties between the power-feeding line FL and the cable 100c may cause a problem during a connection process. In addition, during the soldering process, such as soldering, minor mistakes may give rise to problems, such as defects or errors.

[0074] In the vehicular transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure, a solderable region of the power-feeding line FL is limited. In addition, the antenna is arranged adjacent to the solderable region, which is sensitive to heat, thereby making a transparent antenna process difficult. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a method capable of reducing the occurrence of issues related to durability, bonding strength, hardness, and the like during the soldering process, such as soldering.

[0075] One object of the present disclosure is to propose a module structure and a protective cover structure that enable easy installation of a film-type transparent antenna for vehicular use, and that exhibit high durability applicable under vehicular environmental conditions. Another object of the present disclosure is to simplify a method of connecting a transparent antenna and a cable, thereby reducing errors or defects that may occur during a connection process. A further object of the present disclosure is to reduce errors or defects that may occur during a connection process, by forming a step in a cable connected to a flat power-feeding line.

[0076] Another object of the present disclosure is to prevent a reduction in signal performance of a transparent antenna by protecting an ACF bonding portion, that is, a connection between a power-feeding line and a cable, using a housing. Still another object of the present disclosure is to prevent degradation of signal performance of an antenna by preventing signal interruption caused by a surrounding environment by coating a protective cover, such as a housing, with a metal film. Yet another object of the present disclosure is to apply a vehicular high-durability transparent antenna module to vehicles supporting 5G communication, autonomous driving vehicles, and the like.

[0077] In this context, various tests may be conducted under mechanical, chemical, and vehicular environmental conditions to verify the reliability of the vehicular transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure. Therefore, according to the present disclosure, there is a need to facilitate the process of a connection to the power-feeding line by optimizing the structure of a connection terminal of the cable 100c, thereby further enhancing coupling. As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, a connection portion between the power-feeding line FL and the cable 100c, and a connection portion between the metal pad on the antenna pattern and the power-feeding line are all covered by a housing 1050, thereby enabling an improvement in stability.

[0078] The vehicular transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure can exhibit no change in the signal performance of the antenna even after being subjected to various reliability conditions. In this context, the reliability test conditions may include solar durability tests, thermal shock tests, temperature / humidity tests, vibration durability tests, water resistance reliability tests, ACF bonding strength tests, and hardness tests. In addition, the reliability test conditions may include abrasion resistance tests, chemical resistance tests, salt spray tests, and destructive tests. Therefore, through the design of a transparent antenna assembly structure according to the present disclosure, effects can be achieved such as simplification of the process of manufacturing the transparent antenna, a reduction in a defect rate, an improvement in antenna reliability, and an improvement in signal performance under vehicular environmental conditions.

[0079] The transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure may be formed to have an on-glass structure in which the antenna is formed on the glass panel or an in-glass structure in which the antenna is formed between glass panels. In this context, FIG. 8 is a set of a coupling view, an exploded view, and a cross-sectional view illustrating that the housing of the transparent antenna module, which has the on-glass structure in FIG. 6, is arranged on the glass panel. FIG. 9 is a set of a coupling view, an exploded view, and a cross-sectional view illustrating that the housing of the transparent antenna module, which has the in-glass structure, is arranged on the glass panel.

[0080] (a) of FIG. 8 is a coupling view illustrating that the housing 1050 of the transparent antenna module, which has the on-glass structure in FIG. 6, is arranged in the opaque region 12 of the glass panel 10. A lower region of the housing 1050 may be formed to have a circle-shaped cross-section in a manner that corresponds to the shape of the cable 100c.

[0081] (b) of FIG. 8 is an exploded view illustrating that the housing 1050 is coupled to the flexible substrate 1200 and the opaque region 12 of the glass panel 10 through an adhesive layer 1070. One end portion of the cable 100c may be connected to a metal pad MP on the flexible substrate 1200.

[0082] (c) of FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating that the housing 1050 is arranged in the opaque region 12 of the glass panel 10. The lower region of the housing 1050 may be formed to have a circular cross section with a first diameter D1 in a manner that corresponds to a shape of the cable 100c. A lower end portion of the housing 1050 may be formed to have a circular cross section with a second diameter D2 in such a manner that the cable 100c remains fixed by a cable holder. The housing 1050 may be formed to have the first diameter DC1 greater than the second diameter D2. The housing 1050 may be formed to have the first diameter D1 equal to or greater than a predetermined dimension in such a manner as not to come into contact with one end portion of the cable 100c soldered to the power-feeding line. The lower end portion of the housing 1050 may be formed to have the second diameter D2 that is equal to, or greater by a predetermined range than, that of the cable 100c, allowing for clearance.

[0083] With reference to FIGS. 6 and 8, the transparent antenna module having the on-glass structure in which the antenna pattern is attached may be arranged on a surface of the glass panel 10 of the vehicle. The on-glass structure of the transparent antenna module is a structure in which only an antenna pad portion is attached with an adhesive. Therefore, the flexible substrate 1200 and the cable 100c are separated from the surface of the glass panel, thereby requiring an additional fixation operation for fixing the flexible substrate 1200 and the cable 100c.

[0084] According to the present disclosure, the housing 1050 may be formed to have a greater width in a horizontal-axis direction than the flexible substrate 1200. The flexible substrate 1200 may be designed in such a manner that the application of the adhesive layer 1070 to a bottom surface of the housing 1050 brings the flexible substrate 1200 into close contact with the glass pane 10 and fixed thereto. Therefore, no separate operation is required to fix the flexible substrate 1200 to the glass panel 10. In addition, the housing 1050 is designed to cover a connection portion of the cable 100c soldered to the power-feeding line on the flexible substrate 1200, thereby fixing the cable 100c. Accordingly, stress that may be applied to a soldered portion of one end portion of the cable 100c by bending the cable 100c or by a similar operation can be minimized.

[0085] The application of the housing 1050 according to the present disclosure enhances the robustness of the connection portions, thereby enabling prevention of damage due to vehicle vibrations or shocks. In addition, even in a case where an operator moves the glass panel 10 to which the antenna is attached, holding only the cable 100c, sufficient connection strength can be provided without causing disconnection of the cable 100c. In addition, the flexible substrate 1200 and cable 100c of the transparent antenna module, which may be exposed to the view of an occupant within the vehicle, can be completely covered by the housing 1050.

[0086] (a) of FIG. 9 is a coupling view illustrating that the housing 1050 of the transparent antenna module having the in-glass structure is arranged in the opaque region 12 of the glass panel 10. A one-side region of the housing 1050 may be formed to have a circular cross section in a manner that corresponds to the shape of the cable 100c.

[0087] (b) of FIG. 9 is an exploded view illustrating that the housing 1050 is coupled to the flexible substrate 1200 and the opaque region 12 of the glass panel 10 through the adhesive layer 1070. The glass panel 10 may be formed to have a double-pane glass structure including a first glass pane 10a and a second glass pane 10b. The flexible substrate 1200 may include a first region R1 arranged between the first glass pane 10a and the second glass pane 10b of the glass panel 10, a second region R2 arranged on a lateral surface of the first glass pane 10a, and a third region R3 disposed on a front surface of the first glass pane 10a. One end portion of the cable 100c may be connected to the metal pad MP formed in the third region R3 of the flexible substrate 1200.

[0088] (c) of FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating that the housing 1050 is arranged in the opaque region 12 of the glass panel 10. The first region R1 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be attached to the first glass pane 10a and the second glass pane 10b. The first region R1 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be attached to the first glass pane 10a and the second glass pane 10b by ACF bonding. The third region R3 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be attached to the first glass pane 10a through the adhesive layer 1070. The third region R3 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be attached to the housing 1050 through the adhesive layer 1070.

[0089] The one-side region of the housing 1050 may be formed to have a circular cross section with a first diameter in a manner that corresponds to the shape of the cable 100c. One end portion of the housing 1050 may be formed to have a circular cross section with a second diameter in such a manner that the cable 100c is fixed by the cable holder. The housing 1050 may be formed to have the first diameter greater than the second diameter. The housing 1050 may be formed to have the first diameter equal to or greater than the predetermined dimension in such a manner as not to come into contact with one end portion of the cable 100c soldered to the power-feeding line. One end portion of the housing 1050 may be formed to have the second diameter that is equal to, or greater by the predetermined range than, that of the cable 100c, allowing for clearance.

[0090] With reference to FIG. 9, the transparent antenna module having the in-glass structure in which the transparent antenna is arranged between the glass panels 10 having a double-pane glass structure may be configured. In the in-glass structure, the antenna pattern and an ACF bonding portion are buried into a double junction glass pane, thereby eliminating the short circuit risk, but a soldered portion between the power-feeding line and the cable 100c is exposed to the outside. Therefore, the in-glass structure, like the on-glass structure, is a structure susceptible to impact or vibration.

[0091] One portion of the flexible substrate 1200, which is formed to be bent toward the first glass pane 10a, and the cable 100c are separated from the glass pane 10 as in the on-glass structure, thereby requiring an additional fixation operation for fixing the flexible substrate 1200 and the cable 100c.

[0092] Like the housing having the on-glass structure, the housing 1050 having the in-glass structure may be formed to have a structure in which the housing 1050 is wider in the horizontal-axis direction than the flexible substrate 1200. The flexible substrate 1200 may be designed in such a manner that the application of the adhesive layer 1070 to the bottom surface of the housing 1050 brings the flexible substrate 1200 into close contact with the glass pane 10 and fixed thereto. Therefore, no separate operation is required to fix the flexible substrate 1200 to the glass panel 10. In addition, the housing 1050 is designed to cover the connection portion of the cable 100c soldered to the power-feeding line on the flexible substrate 1200, thereby fixing the cable 100c. Accordingly, stress that may be applied to a soldered portion of one end portion of the cable 100c by bending the cable 100c or by a similar operation can be minimized.

[0093] The application of the housing 1050 according to the present disclosure enhances the robustness of the connection portions, thereby enabling prevention of damage due to vehicle vibrations or shocks. In addition, even in the case where an operator moves the glass panel 10 to which the antenna is attached, holding only the cable 100c, sufficient connection strength can be provided without causing disconnection of the cable 100c. In addition, the flexible substrate 1200 and cable 100c of the transparent antenna module, which may be exposed to the view of an occupant within the vehicle, can be completely covered by the housing 1050.

[0094] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 6 to 8, the flexible substrate 1200 and the cable 100c may be arranged in the opaque region in an upper portion of the front glass pane 101. The cable 100c may be arranged in one axial direction corresponding to a perpendicular axial direction of the opaque region of the upper end portion of the front glass pane 101. A metal electrode layer in the antenna region 1100 may be arranged on the front glass pane 101. The metal electrode layer in the antenna region 1100 may be arranged on the inner side of the front glass pane 101, the inner side facing the inside of the vehicle, or may be arranged on the outer side thereof, the outer side facing the outside of the vehicle. The cable 100c may be arranged in the Y-axis direction, which is a perpendicular axial direction of the opaque region 12 of the glass panel 10.

[0095] With reference to FIGS. 1, 6, 7, and 9, the flexible substrate 1200 and the cable 100c may be arranged in an opaque manner at the upper end portion of the front glass pane 101 of the vehicle. The flexible substrate 1200 may be formed to include the first region R1, the second region R2, and the third region R3. The first region R1 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be arranged between the first glass pane 10a and the second glass pane 10b of the glass panel 10. The second region R2 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be arranged on the lateral surface of the first glass pane 10a. The third region R3 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be arranged on the front surface of the first glass pane 10a. The metal electrode layer in the antenna region 1100 may be arranged between the first glass pane 10a and the second glass pane 10b.

[0096] The cable 100c connected to the third region R3 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be arranged in the other axial direction corresponding to a horizontal-axis direction of the opaque region of the upper end portion of the front glass pane 101. The cable 100c connected to the third region R3 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be arranged in the X-axis direction, which is a horizontal axis direction of the opaque region 12 of the glass panel 10.

[0097] The cable structures of the vehicular transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure are described with regard to the improvement in antenna reliability and the improvement in signal performance under vehicular environmental conditions. In this context, FIGS. 10 to 12 are views, each illustrating the cable structure of the vehicular transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure.

[0098] (a) of FIG 10 illustrates the cable 100c that includes a signal line SL, a dielectric portion DL, a first conductor portion CP1, a ground line GL, and a second conduction portion CP2. The cable 100c may be configured as a coaxial cable in which the center of the signal line SL and the center of the ground line GL are arranged coaxially about a common axis. (b) of FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the cable 100c configured as a coaxial cable. (b) of FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA' on the cable 100c in (a) of FIG. 10.

[0099] (a) of FIG. 11 illustrates the cable 100c that includes the signal line SL, the dielectric portion DL, the first conductor portion CP1, the ground line GL, and the second conductor portion CP2. The cable 100c may be configured as a body-shaped cable formed to have a rectangular or polygonal connector structure at the connection portion connected to the flexible substrate. (b) of FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the cable 100c configured as the body-shaped cable. (b) of FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA' on the cable 100c in (a) of FIG. 11.

[0100] (a) of FIG. 12 illustrates the cable 100c that includes the signal line SL, the dielectric portion DL, the first conductor portion CP1, the ground line GL, and the second conductor portion CP2. The cable 100c may be configured as a wing-shaped cable in which the connector 10c having a metal pad shape is formed at the connection portion connected to the flexible substrate. A surface of the connector 10c may be coated with a material, such as lead (Pb) for soldering. (b) of FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the cable 100c configured as the wing-shaped cable in which the connector 10c is formed. (b) of FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA' on the cable 100c in (a) of FIG. 12.

[0101] FIGS. 10 to 12 illustrate a comparison between the cable structures in which a terminal is formed to reduce the occurrence of a problem due to soldering and a coaxial cable structure. According to the present disclosure, a terminal structure may be attached to the cable 100c to simplify a connection process and enhance a connection between the power-feeding line FL and the cable 100c.

[0102] The cable 100c having the terminal structure attached thereto according to the present disclosure may be configured as the body-shaped cable in FIG. 11 and the wing-shaped cable in FIG. 12. The cable 100c having the terminal structure attached thereto may be configured as the cable holder 10h and the connector 10c. An entire structure in which the cable 100c is mounted to the connector 10c may be coated with a lead material.

[0103] In the body-shaped cable in FIG. 11, the connector 10c, which surrounds the cable holder 10h and extends to a predetermined length or greater, together with a ground, can enhance the mechanical strength, thereby reducing cable shaking under vehicular vibration conditions. In the wing-shaped cable in FIG. 12, the connector 10c is arranged only on a bottom surface of the ground, thereby having relatively lower mechanical strength than that in the body-shaped cable. However, in the wing-shaped cable, the connector 10c has a wider soldered region, thereby making the soldering process easier than that in FIG. 10A.

[0104] FIG. 13 is a set of views, each illustrating a process for attaching the cable of the transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure to the flexible substrate. With reference to (a) of FIG. 13, the ground line GL of the cable 100c may be coupled to the connector 10c. The signal line SL on the cable 100c may be formed to protrude from an end portion of the ground line GL. The cable 100c coupled to the connector 10c may be connected to the metal pad MP on the first portion of the flexible substrate 1200 and a soldering pad on the power-feeding line FL on the second portion through a soldering tip ST.

[0105] With reference to (b) of FIG. 13, the soldering tip ST may be brought into contact with the metal pad MP on the first portion of the flexible substrate 1200. Accordingly, the metal pad MP on the first portion of the flexible substrate 1200 may be configured to be preheated. With reference to (c) of FIG. 13, the connector 10c coupled to the cable 100c may be connected to the metal pad MP on the first portion of the flexible substrate 1200 through soldering.

[0106] With reference to (d) of FIG. 13, the signal line SL of the cable 100c may be soldered to the soldering pad on the power-feeding line FL on the second portion of the flexible substrate 1200 through the soldering tip ST, thereby being connected to the power-feeding line FL. With reference to (e) FIG. 13, the ground line GL and the signal line SL may be cooled by being connected to the metal pad MP on the first portion of the flexible substrate 1200 and the power-feeding line on the second portion.

[0107] When the cable 100c coupled to the connector 10c according to the present disclosure is employed, a terminal of the cable 100c is coated with lead. Accordingly, a process of applying lead to pads on the flexible substrate is unnecessary between processes in (b) of FIG. 13 and (c) of FIG. 13. In this context, it takes approximately seven to eight minutes to perform a process of soldering the cable to the transparent antenna, including the process of applying lead to the pads on the flexible substrate.

[0108] When the cable 100c proposed in the present disclosure is employed, the process of applying lead to the pads on the flexible substrate 1200 may be omitted, thereby simplifying the process and shortening the process time to approximately six or seven minutes by approximately one minute. In this context, the process of attaching the cable to the transparent antenna module in FIG. 11 may have a time variation due to variation in operator labor time. However, the process of applying lead to the pads on the flexible substrate 1200 may be omitted. This omission enables a reduction in soldering process time due to simplification of the overall process.

[0109] The structure of the cable to which the terminal structure of the vehicular transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure is attached is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 14 is a set of a front view illustrating that the cable fixed by the cable holder is coupled to the connector, a cross-sectional view taken along line AB, and a view illustrating dimensions of the connector. (a) of FIG. 14 is a front view illustrating that the cable 100c fixed by the cable holder 10h is coupled to the connector 10c. (b) of FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AB on the cable 100c coupled to the connector 10c. (c) of FIG. 14 is a view illustrating dimensions of the connector 10c.

[0110] With reference to FIG. 14, the cable holder 10h fixes one portion of the cable 100c, thereby reducing the extent to which the cable 100c is shaken under vehicular environmental conditions during actual attachment of the transparent antenna to the vehicle. The connector 10c can improve soldering workability by increasing the soldering range and can enhance soldering stability by increasing the portion bonded to the power-feeding line.

[0111] A first width W1 in the other axial direction (horizontal direction) of the connector 10c is set to have a value between 1.5 times and 3 times the diameter of the cable 100c, thereby providing an advantage during connection to the power-feeding line. In a case where the first width W1 of the connector 10c is smaller by a factor of 1.5, the convenience of soldering due to forming a step may be reduced. In a case where the first width W1 of the connector 10c is greater by a factor of 3, signal interference may occur, thereby reducing antenna performance.

[0112] A first length L1 in one axial direction of the connector 10c is set to have a value between 0.25 times and 1.5 times the diameter of the cable 100c, thereby providing an advantage during the connection to the power-feeding line. In a case where the first length L1 of the connector 10c is smaller by a factor of 0.25, damage may occur even when a weak mechanical force is applied to the connector 10c during handling in processing. In a case where the first length L1 of the connector 10c is greater by a factor of 1.5, the signal interference may occur, thereby reducing the antenna performance.

[0113] The thickness of the connector 10c is set to have a value between 100 µm and 400 µm, thereby providing an advantage in the soldering process. In a case where the thickness of the connector 10c is smaller than 100 µm, a bending phenomenon or damage may occur even when a weak mechanical force is applied to the connector 10c during handling in processing. In a case where the thickness of the connector 10c is greater than 400 µm, signal attenuation of a high-frequency signal may increase due to signal loss caused by the thickness of the connector 10c.

[0114] As described above, the surface of connector 10c may be coated with a material, such as lead (Pb). The surface of the connector 10c may be connected to the power-feeding line FL by heat treatment alone, thereby enhancing workability. The thickness of lead coated on the connector 10c is set to have a value between 5 µm and 50 µm, thereby providing an advantage during the soldering process. In a case where the thickness of the material coated on the connector 10c is smaller than 5 µm, the connector 10c may not be sufficiently connected to the power-feeding line during a preliminary junction process. In contrast, in a case where the thickness of the material coated on the connector 10c is greater than 50 µm, an excessive amount of lead may be present at a junction portion, thereby causing cold soldering, thermal damage, damage to adjacent regions, and difficulty in housing coupling operations.

[0115] In the connection structure of the vehicular transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure, the housing is formed and the metal film is formed on an inner surface of the housing in such a manner as to surround the cable to which the terminal structure is attached, thereby enabling an improvement in mechanical strength and an improvement in antenna performance.

[0116] The housing 1050 and a metal film 1060 in the connection structure of the transparent antenna module are described with reference to FIG. 15. The metal film 1060 may be formed on the inner surface of the housing 1050. The metal film 1060 may be formed by various methods, such as spray coating, dipping, screening, and sol-gel coating. A metal used for the metal film 1060 is copper or aluminum which have high electrical conductivity and are easy to process. In addition, various metals, such as nickel, iron, silver, and cobalt alloys may be used. To maximize shielding performance, coating thickness and material selection serve as critical factors. In response to requirements, an appropriate material for the metal film 1060 and a method of forming the metal film 1060 may be selected, taking into consideration coating thickness, uniformity, mechanical properties, and costs.

[0117] The thickness of the metal of the metal film 1060 coated on the housing 1050 may be formed within a range between 0.1 mm and 2 mm. In a case where the thickness of the metal of metal film 1060 is smaller than 0.1 mm, a reduction in shielding performance, susceptibility to wear and corrosion, and low mechanical strength may cause damage during processing. In contrast, in a case where the thickness of the metal of the metal film 1060 is greater than 2 mm, this may cause an increase in weight and cost, attenuation of the electromagnetic performance of high-frequency signals, and the like.

[0118] With reference to FIGS. 6 to 15, the vehicular antenna module 1000 according to the present disclosure is described. The transparent antenna module 1000 may be configured to include the flexible substrate 1200, the cable 100c, and the connector 10c. The transparent antenna module 1000 may be configured to further include the housing 1050. The transparent antenna module 1000 may be configured to further include the metal film 1060 formed on an inner surface of the housing 1050. The antenna module 1000 may further include the adhesive layer 1070 that fixes the housing 1050 to the flexible substrate 1200.

[0119] The flexible substrate 1200 may be arranged in the opaque region 11 of the glass panel 10. The metal pad MP may be arranged on the first portion P1 of the flexible substrate 1200. The power-feeding line FL may be arranged at the second portion P2 of the flexible substrate 1200, the second portion P2 being spaced apart from the first portion P1 thereof.

[0120] The cable 100c may include the signal line SL, the first conductor portion CP1 formed to surround the signal SL, the dielectric portion DP formed to surround the first conductor portion CP1, and the ground line GL formed to surround the dielectric portion DP. The cable 100c may be configured to further include the second conductor portion CP2 formed to surround the ground line GL. In this context, a first cross section at a first point on the cable 100c, the first point being connected to the power-feeding line FL, may include the signal line SL, the first conductor portion CP1, the dielectric portion DP, and the ground line GL.

[0121] A second cross section at a second point on the cable 100c arranged in the opaque region of the glass panel 10 outside the flexible substrate 1200 may include the signal line SL, the first conductor portion CP1, the dielectric portion DP, the second conductor portion CP2, and the ground line GL.

[0122] The connector 10c may be formed by coating the connection 10c with a metal material that melts when heated. The connector 10c may be coupled to a lower end of the ground line GL of the cable 100c. The connector 10c may be formed to have the first length L1 in one axial direction and a first width W1 in the other axial direction perpendicular to the one axial direction. The ground line GL of the cable 100c and the metal pad MP arranged on the first portion P1 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be electrically connected to each other by the connector 10c. Accordingly, a ground structure of the cable 100c and a ground structure of the flexible substrate 1200 may be coupled with a predetermined mechanical strength or greater. The signal line SL at one end portion of the cable 100c and the power-feeding line FL arranged on the second portion P2 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be connected to each other. Accordingly, a signal line structure of the cable 100c and a signal line structure of the flexible substrate 1200 may be coupled with a predetermined mechanical strength or greater.

[0123] The first portion P1 of the flexible substrate 1200, at which the connector 10c is arranged, may be formed to have a second length L2 in one axial direction. The first portion P1 of the flexible substrate 1200, at which the connector 10c is arranged, may be formed to have a second width W2. The first portion P1 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be formed as a dielectric region from which a metal pattern of a ground region is removed over a second width W2. The first portion P1 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be formed to have the second length L2 greater than the first length L1 of the connector 10c. The first portion P1 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be formed to have the second W2 greater than the first width W1 of the connector 10c.

[0124] The ground portions GP1 and GP2 may be formed on one side and the other side, respectively, of the power-feeding line FL on the second portion P2 of the flexible substrate 1200 in such a manner to be spaced apart from the power-feeding line FL. The power-feeding line FL on the first portion P2 of the flexible substrate 1200, and the ground portions GP1 and GP2 may form the co-planar waveguide (CPW) structure. The first portion P1 and the second portion P2 of the flexible substrate 1200 may form a first surface of the flexible substrate 1200. The ground region may be formed on a second surface of the flexible substrate 1200. The second surface of the flexible substrate 1200 may be attached to the opaque region 12 of the glass panel 10.

[0125] The housing 1050 may be formed in such a manner that the cable 100c is accommodated within an interior region of the housing 1050. The housing 1050 may include an upper structure UPS, a first lower support portion LPS1, a second lower support portion LSP2, a first lateral-surface connection portion SCP1, and a second lateral-surface connection portion SCP2. One end portion and the other end portion of the upper structure UPS may be connected to the first lateral-surface connection portion SCP1 and the second lateral-surface connection portion SCP2. A lower end portion of the first lateral-surface connection portion SCP1 may be connected to the first lower support portion LPS1. A lower end portion of the second lateral-surface connection portion SCP2 may be connected to the second lower support portion LPS2.

[0126] The housing 1050 may be formed to have a third length L3 or greater in such a manner that, in one axial direction, the housing 1050 covers the first portion P1 and the second portion P2 of the flexible substrate 1020. The housing 1050 may be formed to have a fourth length L4 or smaller in such a manner that the housing 1050 is arranged in the opaque region 12 of the glass panel 10. The housing 1050 may be formed to have the third width W3 in the other axial direction, the third width W3 being greater than the second width W2 in the first portion P1 of the flexible substrate 1200.

[0127] The metal film 1060 may be formed on the inner surface of the housing 1050. The metal film 1060 may be integrally formed with an inner surface of the upper structure UPS of the housing 1050, an inner surface of the first lateral-surface connection portion SCP1, an inner surface of the second lateral-surface connection portion SCP2, an inner surface of the first lower support portion LSP1, and an inner surface of the second lower support portion LSP2.

[0128] The metal film 1060 may be formed to have a thickness of 0.1 mm or greater to ensure shielding performance. The metal film 1060 may be formed to have a thickness of 2.0 mm or smaller in such a manner that signal loss of the signal line SL on the cable 100c and signal loss of the power-feeding line FL on the flexible substrate 1200 are at or below a predetermined level.

[0129] The connector 10c may be formed to have the first length L1 in one axial direction, the first length L1 being equal to or greater than 0.25 times the diameter of the cable 100c, in order to prevent damage when performing fixation during a soldering process. The connector 10c may be formed to have the first length L1 equal to or smaller than 1.5 times the diameter of the cable 100c, in such a manner that signal interference between the signal line SL and the power-feeding line FL is at or below a predetermined level.

[0130] The connector 10c may be formed to have the first width W1 in the other axial direction, the first width W1 being equal to or greater than 1.5 times the diameter of the cable 100c, in order to ensure the fixation during the soldering process. The connector 10c may be formed to have the first width W1 in the other axial direction, the first width W1 being equal to or smaller than three times the diameter of the cable 100c, in such a manner that the signal loss of the signal line SL and the signal loss of the power-feeding line FL are at or below the predetermined level.

[0131] The connector 10c may be formed to have a diameter of 100 µm or greater in order to prevent bending and damage during a process. The connector 10c may be formed to have a thickness of 400 µm or smaller in such a manner that the signal loss of the signal line SL and the signal loss of the power-feeding line FL are at or below the predetermined level.

[0132] A metal material may be coated on the connector 10c in such a manner as to have a thickness of 5 µm or greater to enable connection to the power-feeding line. The metal material may be coated on the connector 10c in such a manner as to have a thickness of 50 µm or smaller in order to prevent a cold solder joint and to ensure electrical isolation from the metal film 1060 on the inner surface of the housing 1050.

[0133] One end portion of the flexible substrate 1200 may be arranged at a boundary of the opaque region 12 of the glass panel 10. The cable holder 10h may be spaced apart from the other end portion of the flexible substrate 1200 by a predetermined distance. The cable holder 10h may be configured to be formed to surround the cable 100c and to fix the cable 100c. The cable holder 10h may be formed to surround the second conductor portion CP2 of the cable 100c and may be configured to fix the cable 100c to the opaque region 12 of the glass panel 10.

[0134] The housing 1050, inside which the cable 100c is accommodated, may be formed to have a rectangular or circular cross section. In this context, with reference to FIG. 6 and (c) of FIG. 8, the lower region of the housing 1050 may be formed to have the circular first cross section with the first diameter D1. The lower region of the housing 1050 may be formed to have the circular second cross section with the second diameter D2.

[0135] With reference to FIGS. 6 to 15, the lower region of housing 1050 may be formed to have the circular cross section with the first diameter D1 in a manner that corresponds to the shape of the cable 100c. The lower end portion of housing 1050 may be formed to have the circular cross section with the second diameter D2 in such a manner that the cable 100c remains fixed by the cable holder 10h. The lower end portion of the housing 1050 may be formed to have the circular second cross section with the second diameter D2 smaller than the first diameter D1 of the first cross section of the lower region of the housing 1050.

[0136] The adhesive layer 1070 may be arranged between the metal film 1060 and the ground portions GP1 and GP2 in such a manner that the metal film 1060 is bonded to the ground portions GP1 and GP2 on the flexible substrate 1200. The adhesive layer 1070 may be formed of a non-conductive material. Accordingly, the metal film 1060 formed on the inner surface of housing 1050 may be formed to have a floating structure electrically separated from the ground portions GP1 and GP2. An opening in the adhesive layer 1070 may be formed at positions corresponding to the first portion P1 and the second portion P2 of the flexible substrate 1200. Accordingly, the adhesive layer 1070 may be separated from a metal pad on the first portion P1 of the flexible substrate 1200 and from the power-feeding line FL on the second portion P2 thereof.

[0137] As one example, the adhesive layer 1070 may be formed of a conductive material. Accordingly, the metal film 1060 may be formed on the inner surface of the housing 1050 in such a manner as to have a ground structure electrically connected to the ground portions GP1 and GP2. The opening region in the adhesive layer 1070 may be formed at positions corresponding to the first portion P1, the second portion P2, and the power-feeding line FL on the flexible substrate 1200. Accordingly, the adhesive layer 1070 may be electrically isolated from the metal pad on the first portion P1 of the flexible substrate 1200 and from the power-feeding line FL on the second portion P2 thereof.

[0138] As another example, the adhesive layer 1070 may be formed of a non-conductive material. A boundary of an upper portion of the adhesive layer 1070 may be arranged under a lower end of the connection portion of the power-feeding line FL. Accordingly, the adhesive layer 1070 may be electrically isolated from the metal pad on the first portion P1 of the flexible substrate 1200 and from the power-feeding line FL on the second portion P2 thereof.

[0139] In the transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure, one end portion and the other end portion of the flexible substrate 1200 may be connected to a stacking structure of the antenna region and to the cable 100c, respectively. In this context, FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view illustrating that, in the transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure, one end portion and the other end portion of the flexible substrate are connected to the stacking structure of the antenna region and to the cable, respectively.

[0140] With reference to FIGS. 6, 15, and 16, in order to enhance the durability of the transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure, the housing 1050 is proposed which fixes a junction portion between the antenna pattern and the power-feeding line FL and a connection portion connecting the power-feeding line FL and the cable 100c. The antenna module proposed according to the present disclosure may employ a structure that fixes the AFC bonding portion, the power-feeding line FL, and the cable 100c, which are susceptible to vibration and shock.

[0141] In this regard, the structure that fixes the cable 100c may be configured as the connector 10c arranged at the first portion P1 of the flexible substrate 1200. The signal line SL on the cable 100c may be connected to the power-feeding line FL arranged at the second portion P2 of the flexible substrate 1200. The antenna pattern corresponding to a plurality of antenna elements may be connected to the power-feeding line FL through the third portion P3 of the flexible substrate 1200 that is configured as the AFC bonding portion.

[0142] The transparent antenna may be attached to the glass panel 10 of the vehicle using an optically clear adhesive (OCA). The housing 1050 having an adhesive attached thereto may be used to fix the junction portion between the antenna pattern and the power-feeding line FL, and the connection portion between the power-feeding line FL and the cable 100c. The housing 1050 may be formed to include the metal film 1060. When the transparent antenna is mounted on the glass pane of the vehicle, the transparent antenna may include the plurality of antenna elements that are arranged adjacently.

[0143] Electromagnetic-wave interference may occur due to adjacent antennas. In this context, when the housing 1050 coated with the metal film 1060 is employed, a shielding structure for the power-feeding line FL covered by the housing 1050 coated with the metal film 1060 may be formed. The shielding structure of the housing 1050 coated with the metal film 1060 may reduce noise caused by external signals, thereby reducing signal loss that occurs when signals are transferred.

[0144] With reference to FIGS. 6, 15, and 16, the third portion P3 of the flexible substrate 1200, the third portion P3 being formed adjacent to a boundary between the transparent region 11 and the opaque region 12 of the glass panel 10, may be coupled to an end of the antenna region 1100 formed in the transparent region 11. The third portion P3 of the flexible substrate 1200 may include the power-feeding line FL, and the first ground portion GP1 and the second ground portion GP2 that are arranged to be spaced apart from one side and the other side, respectively, of the power-feeding line FL.

[0145] The antenna region 1100 arranged in the transparent region 11 of the glass panel 10 may be configured to include a first adhesive layer 1001, a metal electrode layer 1100a, and a transparent substrate layer 1010. The first adhesive layer 1001 may be formed in such a manner as to be bonded to the transparent area 11 of the glass panel 10. The first adhesive layer 1001 may be formed of an acrylic or silicone-based adhesive. The metal electrode layer 1100a may be formed in such a manner as to be stacked on the first adhesive layer 1001. The metal electrode layer 1100a may be formed to have a structure in which resin is filled between metal grids formed of a metal material. The transparent substrate layer 1010 may be formed in such a manner as to be stacked on the metal electrode layer 1100a. The power-feeding line FL on the third portion P3 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be connected to an end of the antenna pattern on the metal electrode layer 1100a. The power-feeding line FL on the third portion P3 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be connected to one or more of the metal grids that form the metal electrode layer 1100a.

[0146] One end portion in one axial direction of the first adhesion layer 1001 may be formed in a manner aligned with one end portion of the transparent substrate layer 1010. The other end portion in the one axial direction of the first adhesive layer 1001 may be formed at a point positioned farther inward within the antenna region 1100 than the other end portion of the transparent substrate layer 1010. The other end portion in the one axial direction of the first adhesive layer 1001 may be arranged to be aligned with and in contact with a boundary of the third portion P3 of the flexible substrate 1200. The first adhesive layer 1001 may be formed to have the same thickness as the flexible substrate 1200 and the power-feeding line FL on the third portion P3.

[0147] The transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure may be arranged on the front glass pane of the vehicle. The transparent antenna module arranged on the front glass pane of the vehicle may be configured to include a plurality of antennas. In this context, FIG. 17 is a view illustrating antennas arranged on the front glass pane of the vehicle. FIGS. 18A and 18B are views, each illustrating the transparent antenna module including the first to fourth antennas in FIG. 17.

[0148] With reference to FIGS. 17 and 18A, the first antenna 1110 and the second antenna 1120 may be arranged in a first region 101R1 of the front glass pane 101 arranged in a front region of the vehicle. Respective end portions of the first antenna 1110 and the second antenna 1120 may be connected to a first power-feeding line FL1 on a first flexible substrate 1200a and a second power-feeding line FL2 on a second flexible substrate 1200. The first power-feeding line FL1 on the first flexible substrate 1200a may be connected to a first cable 110c. The second power-feeding line FL2 on the second flexible substrate 1200 may be connected to a second cable 120c.

[0149] With reference to FIGS. 17 and 18B, a third antenna 1130 and a fourth antenna 1140 may be arranged in a second region 101R2 of the front glass pane 101 arranged in the front region of the vehicle. Respective end portions of the third antenna 1130 and the fourth antenna 1140 may be connected to a third power-feeding line FL3 on a third flexible substrate 1200c, and a fourth power-feeding line FL4 on a fourth flexible substrate 1200, respectively. The third power-feeding line FL3 on the third flexible substrate 1200c may be connected to a third cable 130c. The fourth power-feeding line FL3 on the third flexible substrate 1200c may be connected to a fourth flexible cable 140c.

[0150] With reference to FIGS. 6 and 16 to 18B, the glass panel 10 may be the front glass pane 101 arranged in the front region of the vehicle. The first antenna 1110 and the second antenna 1120 may be arranged on the antenna region 1100 that corresponds to a transparent regions 101a of the front glass pane 101. The cable 100c may be configured to include the first cable 110c and the second cable 120c. The first cable 110c may be connected to an end portion of the first antenna 1110 through the first power-feeding line FL1. The second cable 120c may be connected to an end portion of the second antenna 1110 through the second power-feeding line FL2.

[0151] A plurality of antenna elements may be arranged in an upper-left region and an upper-right region of the front glass pane 101 of the vehicle. In this context, the plurality of antenna elements may be configured to include the first to fourth antennas 1110 to 1140.

[0152] In this context, an opaque region 101b of the front glass pane 101 may be formed to have a first perpendicular length Lv1 in the first region 101R1 and the second region 101R2 in a perpendicular axial direction of the front glass pane 101. A third region 101R3 may be formed between the first region 101R1 and the second region 101R2 of the front glass pane 101. The opaque region 101b may be formed in the third region 101R3 between the first region 101R1 and the second region 101R2 of the front glass pane 101 in such a manner as to have a second perpendicular length Lv2 greater than the first perpendicular length Lv1.

[0153] The first antenna 1110 and the second antenna 1120 may be arranged in the first region 101R1 of the front glass pane 101. The third antenna 1130 and the fourth antenna 1140 may be arranged in the second region 101R2 of the front glass pane 101.

[0154] In the transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure, the cable structure may be connected to the metal pad on the flexible substrate either without the connector or through the connector. In this context, FIG. 19 is a view illustrating a first cable structure connected to the metal pad on the flexible substrate without the connector and a second cable structure connected to the metal pad on the flexible substrate through the connector in the transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure. FIG. 20 is a graph illustrating a comparison of signal performance between the first cable structure and the second cable structure in FIG. 19.

[0155] With reference to FIGS. 19 and 20, the first cable structure connected to the metal pad on the flexible substrate without the connector and the first cable structure connected to the metal pad on the flexible substrate through the connector have insertion loss characteristics that are substantially the same as those over the entire frequency band.

[0156] The second cable structure has a lower insertion loss value than the first cable structure in frequency ranges from 2.25 GHz to 2.5 GHz and from 2.9 GHz to 3.5 GHz within an operational frequency band of the transparent antenna module. The second cable structure has a lower insertion loss value than the first cable structure in a frequency range from 2.9 GHz to 4.5 GHz within the operational frequency band of the transparent antenna module. With reference to FIGS. 6, 14, 19, and 20, the connection structure that uses the connector 10c, and the housing 1050 that is coated with the metal film 1060, reduce the insertion loss value of the second cable structure. Accordingly, the connection structure that uses the connector 10c, and the housing 1050 that is coated with the metal film 1060, make it possible to enhance the mechanical strength and electrical characteristics of the cable 100c.

[0157] The vehicular high-durability transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure has been described above. The technical effects of the vehicular high-durability transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure are described as follows.

[0158] According to the present disclosure, the vehicular transparent antenna module, which is capable of being arranged on a side glass pane, a front glass pane, a sunroof, a side mirror, and a headlamp, can be employed for 5G and V2X communications without being subject to the vehicular design constraints.

[0159] According to the present disclosure, a step can be formed in a junction portion of a cable connected to a flexible substrate on which a power-feeding line is formed, thereby simplifying a junction process and securely fixing the power-feeding line and the cable.

[0160] According to the present disclosure, by forming a step in the ground wire of the cable using the connector, the contact region with the power-feeding line can be broadened, and lead can be applied to the contact portion, thereby connecting the power-feeding line and the cable using less heat.

[0161] According to the present disclosure, the ACF bonding portion, the power-feeding line, and the cable that are susceptible to vibration and shock can be protected using the housing.

[0162] According to the present disclosure, the shielding structure of the interior of the housing can reduce noise caused by external signals and can reduce signal loss occurring between transmitted antenna signals.

[0163] According to the present disclosure, effects, such as process simplification, a reduction in defect occurrence, prevention of damage due to vehicle vibration or shock, and an improvement in signal performance can be achieved through the formation of a step in the cable and through the housing structure design.

[0164] The additional scope of applicability of the present specification will become apparent from the following detailed description. Furthermore, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the detailed description and specific embodiments, including the preferred embodiment, are provided as illustrative examples only.

[0165] The detailed descriptions should not serve the purpose of limiting the interpretation of all constituent elements according to the present disclosure, and should be considered as serving illustrative purposes only. The scope of the present disclosure should be determined by the proper construction of the following claims. All equivalent modifications and variations to the embodiments of the present disclosure fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0042]Embodiments disclosed in the present specification will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The identical or similar constituent elements are represented by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions thereof are not omitted. The terms "module" and "unit" are hereinafter used interchangeably to name constituent elements solely for convenience of description in the present specification. These terms are not intended to have different meanings or to indicate different functions. In addition, in describing the embodiments disclosed in the present specification, detailed descriptions of well-known related technologies may be omitted when such descriptions are deemed to obscure the nature and gist of the present disclosure. In addition, the accompanying drawings are provided solely to aid understanding of the embodiment that is disclosed in the present specification, and the technical idea that is disclosed in the present specificat...

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicular transparent antenna module. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a vehicular high-durability transparent antenna module.Background Art

[0002] As technology advances from 4G LTE communication to 5G communication, vehicular antennas continuously require expansion of supported networks from existing FM / AM antennas and LTE antennas to 5G antennas or V2X antennas.

[0003] In this context, an increase in communication frequency provides advantages in increasing communication performance and quality in terms of transmission and the amount of data transmitted and received. However, as the communication frequency increases, an obstacle in a signal propagation path may lead to signal loss. To minimize signal loss in the 5G band, materials with low dielectric constant and low dielectric loss are required.

[0004] In particular, vehicle antennas have various requirements that can not only improve antenna performance in terms of signal loss, but also support future high-speed communications. In this regard, there are various requirements for network scalability and design flexibility that do not compromise a unique vehicular design, ease of installation that enables vehicular mounting, and the like.

[0005] It is technically difficult to perform a junction process for connecting a flexible substrate on which a power-feeding line is arranged, and a rigid coaxial cable to each other. Thus, a proper connection cannot be reliably made, and errors and defects can occur, such as disconnection. In this context, signals cannot be properly transferred, thereby decreasing the performance of a transparent antenna.

[0006] The transparent antenna may be installed at various locations, such as a front glass pane, a rear glass pane, a side glass pane, a roof glass pane, a side mirror, and a front lamp. Therefore, the transparent antenna can be advantageously installed while maintaining a unique design and a communication-capable configuration. In contrast, the transparent antenna is configured using a film, thereby making it difficult to install the transparent antenna using an existing antenna manufacturing process. In addition, the connection is required to remain robust even under vehicular vibration conditions.Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[0007] One object of the present disclosure is to address the above-mentioned and other related problems. One object of the present disclosure is to propose a module structure and a protective cover structure that enable easy installation of a film-type transparent antenna for vehicular use, and that exhibit high durability applicable under vehicular environmental conditions.

[0008] Another object of the present disclosure is to simplify a method of connecting a transparent antenna and a cable, thereby reducing errors or defects that may occur during a connection process.

[0009] A further object of the present disclosure is to reduce errors or defects that may occur during a connection process, by forming a step in a cable connected to a flat power-feeding line.

[0010] Another object of the present disclosure is to prevent a reduction in signal performance of a transparent antenna by protecting an ACF bonding portion, that is, a connection between a power-feeding line and a cable, using a housing.

[0011] Still another object of the present disclosure is to prevent degradation of signal performance of an antenna by preventing signal interruption caused by a surrounding environment by coating a protective cover, such as a housing, with a metal film.

[0012] Yet another object of the present disclosure is to apply a vehicular high-durability transparent antenna module to vehicles supporting 5G communication, autonomous driving vehicles, and the like.Solution to Problem

[0013] In order to accomplish the above-mentioned and other related problems, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a vehicular transparent antenna module: a flexible substrate arranged on an opaque region of a glass panel, a metal pad being arranged on a first portion of the flexible substrate, and a power-feeding line being arranged on a second portion spaced apart from the first portion; an antenna region arranged in a transparent region of the glass panel; a cable including a signal line, a first conductor portion formed to surround the signal line, a dielectric portion formed to surround the first conductor portion, and a ground line formed to surround the dielectric portion; and a connector coated with a metal material, coupled to a lower end portion of the ground line of the cable, and formed to have a first length in one axial direction of the flexible substrate and a first width in the other second axial direction perpendicular to the one axial direction. Furthermore, the ground line of the cable and the metal pad arranged on the first portion of the flexible substrate are electrically connected to each other by the connector. Furthermore, the signal line at one end portion of the cable and the power-feeding line arranged on the second portion of the flexible substrate are connected to each other.

[0014] According to an embodiment, in the vehicular transparent antenna module, the flexible substrate and the cable may be arranged in an opaque region of an upper end portion of a front glass pane of a vehicle. Furthermore, a metal electrode layer in the antenna region may be arranged on the front glass pane. Furthermore, the cable may be arranged in one axial direction corresponding to a perpendicular axial direction of the opaque region.

[0015] According to an embodiment, in the vehicular transparent antenna module, the flexible substrate and the cable may be arranged in an opaque region of an upper end portion of a front glass pane of a vehicle. Furthermore, the flexible substrate may include a first region arranged between a first glass pane and a second glass pane of the glass panel, a second region arranged on a lateral surface of the first glass pane, and a third region arranged on a front surface of the first glass pane. Furthermore, a metal electrode layer in the antenna region may be arranged between the first glass pane and the second glass pane. Furthermore, the cable connected to the third region of the flexible substrate may be arranged in the other axial direction corresponding to a horizontal-axis direction of the opaque region.

[0016] According to an embodiment, in the vehicular transparent antenna module, the first portion of the flexible substrate may be formed as a ground region in which a metal pattern having a second length in the one axial direction and a second width in the other axial direction is formed. Furthermore, the first portion and the second portion of the flexible substrate may form a first surface of the flexible substrate. Furthermore, a second surface of the flexible substrate may be attached on the opaque region of the glass panel. Furthermore, the metal pattern is formed to have the second length greater than the first length and the second width greater than the first length.

[0017] According to an embodiment, in the vehicular transparent antenna module, a first cross section at a first point on the cable connected to the power-feeding line formed on the flexible substrate may be formed to include the signal line, the first conductor portion, the dielectric portion, and the power-feeding line. Furthermore, a second cross section at a second point on the cable arranged in the opaque region outside the flexible substrate may be formed to include the signal line, the first conductor portion, the dielectric portion, the ground line, and a second conductor portion.

[0018] According to an embodiment, the vehicular transparent antenna module may further include a housing including an upper structure, a first lower support portion, a second lower support portion, a first lateral-surface connection portion, and a second lateral-surface connection portion in such a manner that the cable is accommodated within an interior region of the housing. Furthermore, the housing may be formed to have a third length or greater in such a manner that, in the one axial direction, the housing covers the first portion and the second portion, and the housing may be formed to have a fourth length or smaller in such a manner that the housing is arranged in the opaque region. Furthermore, the housing may be formed to have a third width in the other axial direction, the third width being greater than the second width.

[0019] According to an embodiment, the vehicular transparent antenna module may further include a metal film integrally formed with an inner surface of the upper structure of the housing, an inner surface of the first lateral-surface connection portion, an inner surface of the second lateral surface connection portion, an inner surface of the first lower support portion, and an inner surface of the second lower support portion.

[0020] According to an embodiment, in the vehicular transparent antenna module, the metal film may be formed to have a thickness of 0.1 mm or greater to ensure shielding performance. Furthermore, the metal film may be formed to have a thickness of 2.0 mm or smaller in such a manner that signal loss of the signal line and signal loss of the power-feeding line are at or below a predetermined level.

[0021] According to an embodiment, in the vehicular transparent antenna module, the connector may be formed to have the first length that is equal to or greater than 0.25 times the diameter of the cable, in order to prevent damage when performing fixation during a soldering process. Furthermore, the connector may be formed to have the first length that is equal to or smaller than 1.5 times the diameter of the cable, in such a manner that signal interference between the signal line and the power-feeding line is at or below a predetermined level.

[0022] According to an embodiment, in the vehicular transparent antenna module, the connector may be formed to have the first width that is equal to or greater than 1.5 times the diameter of the cable, in order to ensure the fixation during the soldering process. Furthermore, the connector may be formed to have the first width that is equal to or smaller than three times the diameter of the cable, in such a manner that the signal interference between the signal line and the power-feeding line is at or below the predetermined level.

[0023] According to an embodiment, in the vehicular transparent antenna module, the connector may be formed to have a thickness of 100 µm or greater in order to prevent bending and damage during a process. Furthermore, the connector may be formed to have a thickness of 400 µm or smaller in such a manner that signal loss of the signal line and signal loss of the power-feeding line are at or below a predetermined level.

[0024] According to an embodiment, in the vehicular transparent antenna module, the metal material may be coated on the connector in such a manner as to have a thickness of 5 µm or greater to enable connection to the power-feeding line. Furthermore, the metal material may be coated on the connector in such a manner as to have a thickness of 50 µm or smaller in order to prevent a cold solder joint and to ensure electrical isolation from the metal film on an inner surface of the housing.

[0025] According to an embodiment, in the vehicular transparent antenna module, one end portion of the flexible substrate may be arranged at a boundary of the opaque region. Furthermore, the vehicular transparent antenna module may further include a cable holder that is arranged to be spaced apart by a predetermined distance from the other end portion of the flexible substrate so as to surround the cable, thereby fixing the cable.

[0026] According to an embodiment, in the vehicular transparent antenna module, a lower region of the housing may be formed to have a circular cross section with a first diameter in a manner that corresponds to a shape of the cable. Furthermore, a lower end portion of the housing may be formed to have a circular cross section with a second diameter in such a manner that the cable remains fixed by the cable holder. Further, the second diameter may be smaller than the first diameter.

[0027] According to an embodiment, the vehicular transparent antenna module may further include an adhesive layer formed of a non-conductive material and arranged between the metal film and the ground region in such a manner that the metal film is bonded to a ground region of the flexible substrate. Furthermore, an opening in the adhesive layer may be formed at positions corresponding to the first portion and the second portion, and the adhesive layer may be separated from the metal pad on the first portion of the flexible substrate and from the power-feeding line on the second portion thereof.

[0028] According to an embodiment, in the vehicular transparent antenna module, a third portion of the flexible substrate, the third portion being formed adjacent to a boundary between the transparent region and the opaque region, may be coupled to an end portion of an antenna region formed in the transparent region. Furthermore, the third portion may include the power-feeding line, and a first ground portion and a second ground portion that are arranged to be spaced apart from one side and the other side, respectively, of the power-feeding line.

[0029] According to an embodiment, in the vehicular transparent antenna module, the antenna region may include: a first adhesive layer attached to the transparent region of the glass panel; a metal electrode layer formed to be stacked on the first adhesive layer; and a transparent substrate layer formed to be stacked on the metal electrode layer. Furthermore, the power-feeding line in the third portion may be connected to an end portion of an antenna pattern on the metal electrode layer.

[0030] According to an embodiment, in the vehicular transparent antenna module, one end portion in the one axial direction of the first adhesive layer may be formed in a manner aligned with one end portion of the transparent substrate layer. Furthermore, the other end portion in the one axial direction of the first adhesive layer may be formed at a point positioned farther inward within the antenna region than the other end portion of the transparent substrate layer. Furthermore, the other end portion of the first adhesive layer may be arranged to be aligned with and in contact with a boundary of the third portion of the flexible substrate. Furthermore, the first adhesive layer may be formed to have a thickness that is equal to the sum of the thickness of the flexible substrate and the thickness of the power-feeding line on the third portion.

[0031] According to an embodiment, in the vehicular transparent antenna module, the glass panel may be a front glass pane arranged in a front region of a vehicle. Furthermore, a first antenna and a second antenna may be arranged in the antenna region corresponding to the transparent region of the front glass pane. Furthermore, the cable may include a first cable and a second cable that are connected to an end portion of the first antenna and an end portion of the second antenna, respectively.

[0032] According to an embodiment, in the vehicular transparent antenna module, the opaque region may be formed to have a first perpendicular length in a first region and a second region in a perpendicular axial direction of the front glass pane. Furthermore, the opaque region may be formed in a third region between the first region and the second region in such a manner as to have a second perpendicular length greater than the first perpendicular length. Furthermore, the first antenna and the second antenna may be arranged in the first region, and a third antenna and a fourth antenna may be arranged in the second region.Advantageous Effects of Invention

[0033] The technical effects of a vehicular high-durability transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure are described as follows.

[0034] According to the present disclosure, the vehicular transparent antenna module, which is capable of being arranged on a side glass pane, a front glass pane, a sunroof, a side mirror, and a headlamp, can be employed for 5G and V2X communications without being subject to the vehicular design constraints.

[0035] According to the present disclosure, a step can be formed in a junction portion of a cable connected to a flexible substrate on which a power-feeding line is formed, thereby simplifying a junction process and securely fixing the power-feeding line and the cable.

[0036] According to the present disclosure, by forming a step in the ground wire of the cable using the connector, the contact region with the power-feeding line can be broadened, and lead can be applied to the contact portion, thereby connecting the power-feeding line and the cable using less heat.

[0037] According to the present disclosure, an ACF bonding portion, the power-feeding line, and the cable that are susceptible to vibration and shock can be protected using a housing.

[0038] According to the present disclosure, a shielding structure of the interior of the housing can reduce noise caused by external signals and can reduce signal loss occurring between transmitted antenna signals.

[0039] According to the present disclosure, effects, such as process simplification, a reduction in defect occurrence, prevention of damage due to vehicle vibration or shock, and an improvement in signal performance can be achieved through the formation of a step in the cable and through the housing structure design.

[0040] The additional scope of applicability of the present specification will become apparent from the following detailed description. However, specific embodiments, such as preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, should be understood as merely illustrative embodiments, such that various alterations and modifications to these embodiments would be apparent, within the technical idea and scope of the present disclosure, to a person of ordinary skill in the art and should fall within the scope of the present disclosure.Brief Description of Drawings

[0041] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present description. FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the configuration of the vehicle according to the embodiment of the present description. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a vehicular glass pane that can be coupled to or attached to a frame of a vehicle. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a combined structure of the vehicular glass pane in FIG. 3 and the frame of the vehicle. FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a vehicular antenna assembly arranged in a transparent region and an opaque region of a vehicular glass pane and a connector structure. FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a vehicular transparent antenna module that is attached to a glass panel of the vehicle. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view illustrating the structure of a transparent substrate arranged in the transparent region and the opaque region of the glass panel in FIG. 6 and the structure of a flexible substrate having a cable attached thereto. FIG. 8 is a set of a combination view, an exploded view, and a cross-sectional view illustrating that a housing of the transparent antenna module, which has an on-glass structure, is arranged on a glass panel. FIG. 9 is a set of a combination view, an exploded view, and a cross-sectional view illustrating that the housing of the transparent antenna module, which has an in-glass structure, is arranged on the glass panel. FIGS. 10 to 12 are views, each illustrating the cable structure of the vehicular transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure. FIG. 13 is a set of views, each illustrating a process for attaching the cable of the transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure to a flexible substrate. FIG. 14 is a set of a front view illustrating that the cable fixed by a cable holder is coupled to a connector, a cross-sectional view taken along line AB, and a view illustrating dimensions of the connector. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a connection structure of the transparent antenna module, including a housing and a metal film on an inner surface of the housing, according to the present disclosure. FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view illustrating that, in the transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure, one end portion and the other end portion of the flexible substrate are connected to a stacking structure of an antenna region and to the cable, respectively. FIG. 17 is a view illustrating antennas arranged on the front glass pane of the vehicle. FIGS. 18A and 18B are views, each illustrating the transparent antenna module including first to fourth antennas in FIG. 17. FIG. 19 is a view illustrating a first cable structure connected to a metal pad on the flexible substrate without the connector and a second cable structure connected to the metal pad on the flexible substrate through the connector in the transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure. FIG. 20 is a graph illustrating a comparison of signal performance between the first cable structure and the second cable structure in FIG. 19. Mode for the Invention

[0042] Embodiments disclosed in the present specification will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The identical or similar constituent elements are represented by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions thereof are not omitted. The terms "module" and "unit" are hereinafter used interchangeably to name constituent elements solely for convenience of description in the present specification. These terms are not intended to have different meanings or to indicate different functions. In addition, in describing the embodiments disclosed in the present specification, detailed descriptions of well-known related technologies may be omitted when such descriptions are deemed to obscure the nature and gist of the present disclosure. In addition, the accompanying drawings are provided solely to aid understanding of the embodiment that is disclosed in the present specification, and the technical idea that is disclosed in the present specification is not limited to the accompanying drawings. All amendments, equivalents, and substitutions that fall within the scope of the technical idea behind the present disclosure are intended to be encompassed by the accompanying drawings.

[0043] The ordinal numbers first, second, and so forth may be used to describe various elements, but they do not limit these elements. These terms are used merely to distinguish among constituent elements having similar functions.

[0044] It should be understood that a constituent element, when referred to as "being connected to" or "having access to" a different constituent element, may be directly connected to or have direct access to the different constituent element, or may be indirectly connected to or have access to the different constituent element through one or more intermediate constituent elements. Likewise, it should be understood that, when a constituent element is described as being "connected to" or "having access to" another constituent element, such connection or access may be direct without the need for one or more intermediary constituent elements.

[0045] A noun in singular form, unless clearly indicated otherwise by the context, shall be understood to include the plural form.

[0046] The terms "include," "have," and equivalent expressions, as used in the present application, shall be understood to indicate the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, constituent element, component, or combination thereof, without precluding the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, constituent elements, components, or combinations thereof.

[0047] A transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure and a method of manufacturing the transparent antenna module will be described in detail below. In this regard, FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present description.

[0048] With reference to FIG. 1, a vehicle 1 may include at least one communication antenna. The vehicle 1 may transmit and / or receive signals in various frequency bands using the communication antenna. The vehicle 1 may perform communications, such as vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P), and vehicle-to-network (V2N).

[0049] The antenna may be configured with a substrate formed of a material, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and an antenna pattern formed on the substrate. For example, the antenna may be a transparent antenna.

[0050] The antenna may be arranged on a dielectric member of the vehicle 1. The antenna may be arranged on a glass pane of the vehicle 1. The antenna may be coupled or attached to a front glass pane 101, door glass panes 102 and 103, a quarter glass pane 104, a rear windshield (not illustrated), a side mirror (not illustrated), a sunroof 105, or a lamp glass pane 106. For example, the antenna may be a transparent antenna.

[0051] FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the configuration of the vehicle according to the embodiment of the present description. With reference to FIG. 2, the vehicle 1 may include an object detection device 410, a communication device 420, a user interface device 431, a driving operation device 432, a vehicle driving device 433, an operational system 434, a navigation system 435, a sensing unit 436, an interface unit 437, a memory 438, a power supply unit 439, and / or a control unit 440. Alternatively, the vehicle 1 may further include one or more constituent elements in addition to the above-mentioned constituent elements or may omit one or more of the above-mentioned constituent elements.

[0052] The object detection device 410 may be a device for detecting an object located outside the vehicle 1. For example, an object detection device 410 may include a processor 411, a camera 412, a radar 413, a LiDAR 414, an ultrasonic sensor 415, and / or an infrared sensor 416.

[0053] The communication device 420 may be a device for performing communication with an external device. The communication device 420 may include at least one of the following: a transmission antenna, a reception antenna, a radio frequency circuit, or an RF element. The transmission antenna and the reception antenna are used to perform communication. The radio frequency circuit and the RF element are capable of executing various communication protocols. For example, the communication device 420 may include a processor 421, a short-range communication unit 422, a position information unit 423, a V2X communication unit 424, an optical communication unit 425, a broadcast transceiver 426, and / or an ITS communication unit 427.

[0054] The user interface device 431 may be a device for enabling interaction between the vehicle 1 and a user. The vehicle 1 may provide a user interface (UI) or a user experience (UX) through the user interface device 431.

[0055] The driving operation device 432 may be a device that receives a user input for driving. The vehicle drive device 433 may be a device that electrically controls operation of various devices within the vehicle 1. The operational system 434 may be a system that controls various operations of the vehicle 1. The navigation system 435 may provide navigation information. The sensing unit 436 may sense the state of the vehicle 1.

[0056] The interface unit 437 may function as an interface for various types of external devices that are connected to the vehicle 1. The memory 438 may store basis data regarding units of the vehicle 1, control data for operational control of the units, input and output data, and the like. The power supply unit 439 may provide power necessary to operate the constituent elements. The control unit 440 may control overall operations of each unit within the vehicle 1. The control unit 440 may be configured as an electronic control unit (ECU) and / or a telematics control unit (TCU).

[0057] A vehicular glass pane on which a transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure is formed may be coupled to a frame of the vehicle. In this context, FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a vehicular glass pane that can be coupled to or attached to the frame of the vehicle. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a combined structure of the vehicular glass pane in FIG. 3 and the frame of the vehicle.

[0058] With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, a glass pane 10 or 10' may be coupled to or attached to a frame 9 of the vehicle and may cover an opening 9h in the frame 9. For example, the glass pane 10 or 10' may be a glass pane of the vehicle 1, such as the front glass pane 101, the door glass panes 102 and 103, the quarter glass pane 104, the rear windshield (not illustrated), the side mirror (not illustrated), the sunroof 105, or the lamp glass pane 106 (refer to FIG. 1).

[0059] A groove 9g in the frame 9 may extend along an edge of the glass pane 10 or 10' and may define a boundary of the opening 9h. For example, the frame 9 may be formed of a metal material, and a space between the groove 9g and the glass pane 10 or 10' may be filled with a sealant 7. The groove 9g may be formed to have a step at an internal boundary of the frame 9. The glass pane 10 having an opaque region 12 formed therein may be arranged in the groove 9g formed to have a step at an internal end portion of the frame 9. The arrangement of the glass pane 10 in the groove 9g makes the groove 9g appear not to have a step.

[0060] The antenna 20 may be positioned on one surface of the glass pane 10 or may be positioned inside the glass pane 10. The antenna 20 may be transparent. The antenna 20 may be flexible.

[0061] A connection module including a connector 10c may be positioned between an edge of the glass pane 10 or 10' and an antenna 20 and may be positioned on one surface of the glass pane 10 or 10'. The connector 10c of the connection module may be electrically connected to the antenna 20 through a substrate 30. An inner cover 8 may be opposite the glass pane 10 with respect to the frame 9 and may cover the connection module. The inner cover 8 may also be referred to as an interior cover 8. The connection module may be referred to as a connector device, a FAKRA jack part, or a connector assembly.

[0062] A vehicular antenna assembly, in which the transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure is enabled, may be arranged in a transparent region and an opaque region of the vehicular glass pane. In this context, FIG. 5 is a view illustrating the vehicular antenna assembly arranged in the transparent region and the opaque region of the vehicular glass pane and a connector structure.

[0063] With reference to FIG. 5, the glass pane 10 may include a transparent region 11 and an opaque region 12. The opaque region 12 may be a black mask region or a frit region. For example, the transparent region 11 may occupy most of the glass pane 10, and the opaque region 12 may be arranged adjacent to one edge of the glass pane 10. The transparent region 11 and the opaque region 12 may be formed to have an identical width W10, and a height H11 of the transparent region 11 may be greater than a height H12 of the opaque region 12.

[0064] The antenna 20 may be positioned on the transparent region 11 in a manner that is adjacent to a boundary between the transparent region 11 and the opaque region 12. The connection module, including the connector 10c, may be positioned on the opaque area 12, and the connector 10c of the connection module may be connected to the antenna 20 through a housing lower plate 111. The housing lower plate 111 is fastened to a housing upper plate 112 and may constitute a housing 110. The connector 10c may be accommodated inside the housing 110. The housing 110, inside which the connector 10c is accommodated, may be arranged in the opaque region 12. At least one portion of the connection module may also be positioned in the transparent region 11.

[0065] A high-durability transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure will be described below. In this context, FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the vehicular transparent antenna module that is attached to a vehicular glass panel. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view illustrating the structure of a transparent substrate arranged in the transparent region and the opaque region of the glass panel in FIG. 6 and the structure of a flexible substrate having a cable attached thereto.

[0066] The structure of the vehicular transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure is as illustrated in FIG. 6. An antenna region 1000 of the antenna module 1100 may be defined in a transparent region 11 of a glass panel 10. A flexible substrate 1200, forming a power-feeding region of the antenna module 1000, may be arranged in an opaque region 12 of the glass panel 10. A power-feeding line FL on the flexible substrate 1200 may be arranged in a black mask region, that is, the opaque region 12 of the glass panel 10, in a manner that is not visible from the outside.

[0067] The power-feeding line FL on the flexible substrate 1200 can be connected to a cable 100c having a predetermined length. The cable 100c may be formed as a coaxial cable, in which an internal conductor, serving as a signal line, and an external conductor, serving as a grounding line, are formed coaxially about a common axis. The cable 100c may be formed in such a manner that the length thereof ranges from 3 mm to 15 mm without being thereto. The length thereof may vary according to the application. The cable 100c connected to the power-feeding line FL is connected to a TCU 300 such that signals in a specific frequency band are transmitted and received.

[0068] With reference to FIG. 6, an on-glass type transparent antenna that is attached to a surface of the glass panel 10 of the vehicle is structured in such a manner as to be attached to the glass panel 10 of the vehicle using an optically clear adhesive (OCA). However, the vehicular antenna module according to the present disclosure is not limited to an on-glass type. Therefore, the transparent antenna module may be formed as an in-glass type in which a metal pattern, corresponding to an antenna element, is arranged between a first glass pane and a second glass pane.

[0069] The transparent antenna module has two connection portions at respective points for electrical connection. A first connection point on the transparent antenna module is a connection point at which the power-feeding line FL and the cable 100c are connected, and the cable 100c may be connected to the power-feeding line FL by soldering. The connection by soldering may give rise to a problem in that a disconnection occurs due to external shock. Therefore, this soldering connection, when subject to external shock, may result in electrical disconnection from the power-feeding line FL. Therefore, a soldering process is required for a connection between the power-feeding line FL and the cable 100c.

[0070] A second connection point on the transparent antenna module is a connection point at which a metal pad, that is, an end portion of the antenna pattern, and the power-feeding line FL are connected. The connection point between the metal pad, that is, the end portion of the antenna pattern, and the power-feeding line FL may be formed using an anisotropic conductive film junction. The first and second connection points on the transparent antenna module, when not provided with a separate fixation structure, may be subject to damage due to vibration or shock and, during an installation operation, may have an effect on antenna performance.

[0071] The first connection point on the vehicular transparent antenna module is as illustrated in FIG. 7. With reference to FIG. 7, the transparent antenna may be arranged in the antenna region 1100 of the antenna module 1000. A first antenna 1110 and a second antenna 1120 may be arranged in the antenna region 1100. An end portion of the first antenna 1110 may be connected to the flexible substrate 1200. An end portion of the second antenna 1120 may be connected to a second flexible substrate 1200b.

[0072] The flexible substrate 1200 may be configured to include a first portion P1, a second portion P2, and a third portion P3. A metal pad MP that is to be connected to the cable 100c may be formed in the first portion P1 of the flexible substrate 1200. The power-feeding line FL may be formed on the second portion P2 of the flexible substrate 1200. The third portion P3 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be connected to an end portion of the antenna region 1100. The power-feeding line FL on the second portion P2 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be formed to extend up to the third portion P3. Ground portions GP1 and GP2 may be formed on one side and the other side, respectively, of the power-feeding line FL on the third portion P3 of the flexible substrate 1200 in such a manner as to be spaced apart from the power-feeding line FL. The power-feeding line FL on the third portion P3 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be formed to have a co-planar waveguide (CPW) structure in which the ground portions GP1 and GP2 are formed on one side and the other side, respectively, thereof.

[0073] In a planar structure of the transparent antenna module, the power-feeding line FL is connected to the cable 100c, and the cable 100c is finally connected to the TCU. Accordingly, signals are transmitted and received along the power-feeding line FL. The process of connecting the rigid cable 100c to the film-type flexible substrate 1200, in which the power-feeding line FL is arranged, is difficult. The power-feeding line FL and the cable 100c may be connected to each other by the soldering process. A difference in electrical and thermal properties between the power-feeding line FL and the cable 100c may cause a problem during a connection process. In addition, during the soldering process, such as soldering, minor mistakes may give rise to problems, such as defects or errors.

[0074] In the vehicular transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure, a solderable region of the power-feeding line FL is limited. In addition, the antenna is arranged adjacent to the solderable region, which is sensitive to heat, thereby making a transparent antenna process difficult. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a method capable of reducing the occurrence of issues related to durability, bonding strength, hardness, and the like during the soldering process, such as soldering.

[0075] One object of the present disclosure is to propose a module structure and a protective cover structure that enable easy installation of a film-type transparent antenna for vehicular use, and that exhibit high durability applicable under vehicular environmental conditions. Another object of the present disclosure is to simplify a method of connecting a transparent antenna and a cable, thereby reducing errors or defects that may occur during a connection process. A further object of the present disclosure is to reduce errors or defects that may occur during a connection process, by forming a step in a cable connected to a flat power-feeding line.

[0076] Another object of the present disclosure is to prevent a reduction in signal performance of a transparent antenna by protecting an ACF bonding portion, that is, a connection between a power-feeding line and a cable, using a housing. Still another object of the present disclosure is to prevent degradation of signal performance of an antenna by preventing signal interruption caused by a surrounding environment by coating a protective cover, such as a housing, with a metal film. Yet another object of the present disclosure is to apply a vehicular high-durability transparent antenna module to vehicles supporting 5G communication, autonomous driving vehicles, and the like.

[0077] In this context, various tests may be conducted under mechanical, chemical, and vehicular environmental conditions to verify the reliability of the vehicular transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure. Therefore, according to the present disclosure, there is a need to facilitate the process of a connection to the power-feeding line by optimizing the structure of a connection terminal of the cable 100c, thereby further enhancing coupling. As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, a connection portion between the power-feeding line FL and the cable 100c, and a connection portion between the metal pad on the antenna pattern and the power-feeding line are all covered by a housing 1050, thereby enabling an improvement in stability.

[0078] The vehicular transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure can exhibit no change in the signal performance of the antenna even after being subjected to various reliability conditions. In this context, the reliability test conditions may include solar durability tests, thermal shock tests, temperature / humidity tests, vibration durability tests, water resistance reliability tests, ACF bonding strength tests, and hardness tests. In addition, the reliability test conditions may include abrasion resistance tests, chemical resistance tests, salt spray tests, and destructive tests. Therefore, through the design of a transparent antenna assembly structure according to the present disclosure, effects can be achieved such as simplification of the process of manufacturing the transparent antenna, a reduction in a defect rate, an improvement in antenna reliability, and an improvement in signal performance under vehicular environmental conditions.

[0079] The transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure may be formed to have an on-glass structure in which the antenna is formed on the glass panel or an in-glass structure in which the antenna is formed between glass panels. In this context, FIG. 8 is a set of a coupling view, an exploded view, and a cross-sectional view illustrating that the housing of the transparent antenna module, which has the on-glass structure in FIG. 6, is arranged on the glass panel. FIG. 9 is a set of a coupling view, an exploded view, and a cross-sectional view illustrating that the housing of the transparent antenna module, which has the in-glass structure, is arranged on the glass panel.

[0080] (a) of FIG. 8 is a coupling view illustrating that the housing 1050 of the transparent antenna module, which has the on-glass structure in FIG. 6, is arranged in the opaque region 12 of the glass panel 10. A lower region of the housing 1050 may be formed to have a circle-shaped cross-section in a manner that corresponds to the shape of the cable 100c.

[0081] (b) of FIG. 8 is an exploded view illustrating that the housing 1050 is coupled to the flexible substrate 1200 and the opaque region 12 of the glass panel 10 through an adhesive layer 1070. One end portion of the cable 100c may be connected to a metal pad MP on the flexible substrate 1200.

[0082] (c) of FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating that the housing 1050 is arranged in the opaque region 12 of the glass panel 10. The lower region of the housing 1050 may be formed to have a circular cross section with a first diameter D1 in a manner that corresponds to a shape of the cable 100c. A lower end portion of the housing 1050 may be formed to have a circular cross section with a second diameter D2 in such a manner that the cable 100c remains fixed by a cable holder. The housing 1050 may be formed to have the first diameter DC1 greater than the second diameter D2. The housing 1050 may be formed to have the first diameter D1 equal to or greater than a predetermined dimension in such a manner as not to come into contact with one end portion of the cable 100c soldered to the power-feeding line. The lower end portion of the housing 1050 may be formed to have the second diameter D2 that is equal to, or greater by a predetermined range than, that of the cable 100c, allowing for clearance.

[0083] With reference to FIGS. 6 and 8, the transparent antenna module having the on-glass structure in which the antenna pattern is attached may be arranged on a surface of the glass panel 10 of the vehicle. The on-glass structure of the transparent antenna module is a structure in which only an antenna pad portion is attached with an adhesive. Therefore, the flexible substrate 1200 and the cable 100c are separated from the surface of the glass panel, thereby requiring an additional fixation operation for fixing the flexible substrate 1200 and the cable 100c.

[0084] According to the present disclosure, the housing 1050 may be formed to have a greater width in a horizontal-axis direction than the flexible substrate 1200. The flexible substrate 1200 may be designed in such a manner that the application of the adhesive layer 1070 to a bottom surface of the housing 1050 brings the flexible substrate 1200 into close contact with the glass pane 10 and fixed thereto. Therefore, no separate operation is required to fix the flexible substrate 1200 to the glass panel 10. In addition, the housing 1050 is designed to cover a connection portion of the cable 100c soldered to the power-feeding line on the flexible substrate 1200, thereby fixing the cable 100c. Accordingly, stress that may be applied to a soldered portion of one end portion of the cable 100c by bending the cable 100c or by a similar operation can be minimized.

[0085] The application of the housing 1050 according to the present disclosure enhances the robustness of the connection portions, thereby enabling prevention of damage due to vehicle vibrations or shocks. In addition, even in a case where an operator moves the glass panel 10 to which the antenna is attached, holding only the cable 100c, sufficient connection strength can be provided without causing disconnection of the cable 100c. In addition, the flexible substrate 1200 and cable 100c of the transparent antenna module, which may be exposed to the view of an occupant within the vehicle, can be completely covered by the housing 1050.

[0086] (a) of FIG. 9 is a coupling view illustrating that the housing 1050 of the transparent antenna module having the in-glass structure is arranged in the opaque region 12 of the glass panel 10. A one-side region of the housing 1050 may be formed to have a circular cross section in a manner that corresponds to the shape of the cable 100c.

[0087] (b) of FIG. 9 is an exploded view illustrating that the housing 1050 is coupled to the flexible substrate 1200 and the opaque region 12 of the glass panel 10 through the adhesive layer 1070. The glass panel 10 may be formed to have a double-pane glass structure including a first glass pane 10a and a second glass pane 10b. The flexible substrate 1200 may include a first region R1 arranged between the first glass pane 10a and the second glass pane 10b of the glass panel 10, a second region R2 arranged on a lateral surface of the first glass pane 10a, and a third region R3 disposed on a front surface of the first glass pane 10a. One end portion of the cable 100c may be connected to the metal pad MP formed in the third region R3 of the flexible substrate 1200.

[0088] (c) of FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating that the housing 1050 is arranged in the opaque region 12 of the glass panel 10. The first region R1 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be attached to the first glass pane 10a and the second glass pane 10b. The first region R1 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be attached to the first glass pane 10a and the second glass pane 10b by ACF bonding. The third region R3 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be attached to the first glass pane 10a through the adhesive layer 1070. The third region R3 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be attached to the housing 1050 through the adhesive layer 1070.

[0089] The one-side region of the housing 1050 may be formed to have a circular cross section with a first diameter in a manner that corresponds to the shape of the cable 100c. One end portion of the housing 1050 may be formed to have a circular cross section with a second diameter in such a manner that the cable 100c is fixed by the cable holder. The housing 1050 may be formed to have the first diameter greater than the second diameter. The housing 1050 may be formed to have the first diameter equal to or greater than the predetermined dimension in such a manner as not to come into contact with one end portion of the cable 100c soldered to the power-feeding line. One end portion of the housing 1050 may be formed to have the second diameter that is equal to, or greater by the predetermined range than, that of the cable 100c, allowing for clearance.

[0090] With reference to FIG. 9, the transparent antenna module having the in-glass structure in which the transparent antenna is arranged between the glass panels 10 having a double-pane glass structure may be configured. In the in-glass structure, the antenna pattern and an ACF bonding portion are buried into a double junction glass pane, thereby eliminating the short circuit risk, but a soldered portion between the power-feeding line and the cable 100c is exposed to the outside. Therefore, the in-glass structure, like the on-glass structure, is a structure susceptible to impact or vibration.

[0091] One portion of the flexible substrate 1200, which is formed to be bent toward the first glass pane 10a, and the cable 100c are separated from the glass pane 10 as in the on-glass structure, thereby requiring an additional fixation operation for fixing the flexible substrate 1200 and the cable 100c.

[0092] Like the housing having the on-glass structure, the housing 1050 having the in-glass structure may be formed to have a structure in which the housing 1050 is wider in the horizontal-axis direction than the flexible substrate 1200. The flexible substrate 1200 may be designed in such a manner that the application of the adhesive layer 1070 to the bottom surface of the housing 1050 brings the flexible substrate 1200 into close contact with the glass pane 10 and fixed thereto. Therefore, no separate operation is required to fix the flexible substrate 1200 to the glass panel 10. In addition, the housing 1050 is designed to cover the connection portion of the cable 100c soldered to the power-feeding line on the flexible substrate 1200, thereby fixing the cable 100c. Accordingly, stress that may be applied to a soldered portion of one end portion of the cable 100c by bending the cable 100c or by a similar operation can be minimized.

[0093] The application of the housing 1050 according to the present disclosure enhances the robustness of the connection portions, thereby enabling prevention of damage due to vehicle vibrations or shocks. In addition, even in the case where an operator moves the glass panel 10 to which the antenna is attached, holding only the cable 100c, sufficient connection strength can be provided without causing disconnection of the cable 100c. In addition, the flexible substrate 1200 and cable 100c of the transparent antenna module, which may be exposed to the view of an occupant within the vehicle, can be completely covered by the housing 1050.

[0094] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 6 to 8, the flexible substrate 1200 and the cable 100c may be arranged in the opaque region in an upper portion of the front glass pane 101. The cable 100c may be arranged in one axial direction corresponding to a perpendicular axial direction of the opaque region of the upper end portion of the front glass pane 101. A metal electrode layer in the antenna region 1100 may be arranged on the front glass pane 101. The metal electrode layer in the antenna region 1100 may be arranged on the inner side of the front glass pane 101, the inner side facing the inside of the vehicle, or may be arranged on the outer side thereof, the outer side facing the outside of the vehicle. The cable 100c may be arranged in the Y-axis direction, which is a perpendicular axial direction of the opaque region 12 of the glass panel 10.

[0095] With reference to FIGS. 1, 6, 7, and 9, the flexible substrate 1200 and the cable 100c may be arranged in an opaque manner at the upper end portion of the front glass pane 101 of the vehicle. The flexible substrate 1200 may be formed to include the first region R1, the second region R2, and the third region R3. The first region R1 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be arranged between the first glass pane 10a and the second glass pane 10b of the glass panel 10. The second region R2 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be arranged on the lateral surface of the first glass pane 10a. The third region R3 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be arranged on the front surface of the first glass pane 10a. The metal electrode layer in the antenna region 1100 may be arranged between the first glass pane 10a and the second glass pane 10b.

[0096] The cable 100c connected to the third region R3 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be arranged in the other axial direction corresponding to a horizontal-axis direction of the opaque region of the upper end portion of the front glass pane 101. The cable 100c connected to the third region R3 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be arranged in the X-axis direction, which is a horizontal axis direction of the opaque region 12 of the glass panel 10.

[0097] The cable structures of the vehicular transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure are described with regard to the improvement in antenna reliability and the improvement in signal performance under vehicular environmental conditions. In this context, FIGS. 10 to 12 are views, each illustrating the cable structure of the vehicular transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure.

[0098] (a) of FIG 10 illustrates the cable 100c that includes a signal line SL, a dielectric portion DL, a first conductor portion CP1, a ground line GL, and a second conduction portion CP2. The cable 100c may be configured as a coaxial cable in which the center of the signal line SL and the center of the ground line GL are arranged coaxially about a common axis. (b) of FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the cable 100c configured as a coaxial cable. (b) of FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA' on the cable 100c in (a) of FIG. 10.

[0099] (a) of FIG. 11 illustrates the cable 100c that includes the signal line SL, the dielectric portion DL, the first conductor portion CP1, the ground line GL, and the second conductor portion CP2. The cable 100c may be configured as a body-shaped cable formed to have a rectangular or polygonal connector structure at the connection portion connected to the flexible substrate. (b) of FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the cable 100c configured as the body-shaped cable. (b) of FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA' on the cable 100c in (a) of FIG. 11.

[0100] (a) of FIG. 12 illustrates the cable 100c that includes the signal line SL, the dielectric portion DL, the first conductor portion CP1, the ground line GL, and the second conductor portion CP2. The cable 100c may be configured as a wing-shaped cable in which the connector 10c having a metal pad shape is formed at the connection portion connected to the flexible substrate. A surface of the connector 10c may be coated with a material, such as lead (Pb) for soldering. (b) of FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the cable 100c configured as the wing-shaped cable in which the connector 10c is formed. (b) of FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA' on the cable 100c in (a) of FIG. 12.

[0101] FIGS. 10 to 12 illustrate a comparison between the cable structures in which a terminal is formed to reduce the occurrence of a problem due to soldering and a coaxial cable structure. According to the present disclosure, a terminal structure may be attached to the cable 100c to simplify a connection process and enhance a connection between the power-feeding line FL and the cable 100c.

[0102] The cable 100c having the terminal structure attached thereto according to the present disclosure may be configured as the body-shaped cable in FIG. 11 and the wing-shaped cable in FIG. 12. The cable 100c having the terminal structure attached thereto may be configured as the cable holder 10h and the connector 10c. An entire structure in which the cable 100c is mounted to the connector 10c may be coated with a lead material.

[0103] In the body-shaped cable in FIG. 11, the connector 10c, which surrounds the cable holder 10h and extends to a predetermined length or greater, together with a ground, can enhance the mechanical strength, thereby reducing cable shaking under vehicular vibration conditions. In the wing-shaped cable in FIG. 12, the connector 10c is arranged only on a bottom surface of the ground, thereby having relatively lower mechanical strength than that in the body-shaped cable. However, in the wing-shaped cable, the connector 10c has a wider soldered region, thereby making the soldering process easier than that in FIG. 10A.

[0104] FIG. 13 is a set of views, each illustrating a process for attaching the cable of the transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure to the flexible substrate. With reference to (a) of FIG. 13, the ground line GL of the cable 100c may be coupled to the connector 10c. The signal line SL on the cable 100c may be formed to protrude from an end portion of the ground line GL. The cable 100c coupled to the connector 10c may be connected to the metal pad MP on the first portion of the flexible substrate 1200 and a soldering pad on the power-feeding line FL on the second portion through a soldering tip ST.

[0105] With reference to (b) of FIG. 13, the soldering tip ST may be brought into contact with the metal pad MP on the first portion of the flexible substrate 1200. Accordingly, the metal pad MP on the first portion of the flexible substrate 1200 may be configured to be preheated. With reference to (c) of FIG. 13, the connector 10c coupled to the cable 100c may be connected to the metal pad MP on the first portion of the flexible substrate 1200 through soldering.

[0106] With reference to (d) of FIG. 13, the signal line SL of the cable 100c may be soldered to the soldering pad on the power-feeding line FL on the second portion of the flexible substrate 1200 through the soldering tip ST, thereby being connected to the power-feeding line FL. With reference to (e) FIG. 13, the ground line GL and the signal line SL may be cooled by being connected to the metal pad MP on the first portion of the flexible substrate 1200 and the power-feeding line on the second portion.

[0107] When the cable 100c coupled to the connector 10c according to the present disclosure is employed, a terminal of the cable 100c is coated with lead. Accordingly, a process of applying lead to pads on the flexible substrate is unnecessary between processes in (b) of FIG. 13 and (c) of FIG. 13. In this context, it takes approximately seven to eight minutes to perform a process of soldering the cable to the transparent antenna, including the process of applying lead to the pads on the flexible substrate.

[0108] When the cable 100c proposed in the present disclosure is employed, the process of applying lead to the pads on the flexible substrate 1200 may be omitted, thereby simplifying the process and shortening the process time to approximately six or seven minutes by approximately one minute. In this context, the process of attaching the cable to the transparent antenna module in FIG. 11 may have a time variation due to variation in operator labor time. However, the process of applying lead to the pads on the flexible substrate 1200 may be omitted. This omission enables a reduction in soldering process time due to simplification of the overall process.

[0109] The structure of the cable to which the terminal structure of the vehicular transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure is attached is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 14 is a set of a front view illustrating that the cable fixed by the cable holder is coupled to the connector, a cross-sectional view taken along line AB, and a view illustrating dimensions of the connector. (a) of FIG. 14 is a front view illustrating that the cable 100c fixed by the cable holder 10h is coupled to the connector 10c. (b) of FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AB on the cable 100c coupled to the connector 10c. (c) of FIG. 14 is a view illustrating dimensions of the connector 10c.

[0110] With reference to FIG. 14, the cable holder 10h fixes one portion of the cable 100c, thereby reducing the extent to which the cable 100c is shaken under vehicular environmental conditions during actual attachment of the transparent antenna to the vehicle. The connector 10c can improve soldering workability by increasing the soldering range and can enhance soldering stability by increasing the portion bonded to the power-feeding line.

[0111] A first width W1 in the other axial direction (horizontal direction) of the connector 10c is set to have a value between 1.5 times and 3 times the diameter of the cable 100c, thereby providing an advantage during connection to the power-feeding line. In a case where the first width W1 of the connector 10c is smaller by a factor of 1.5, the convenience of soldering due to forming a step may be reduced. In a case where the first width W1 of the connector 10c is greater by a factor of 3, signal interference may occur, thereby reducing antenna performance.

[0112] A first length L1 in one axial direction of the connector 10c is set to have a value between 0.25 times and 1.5 times the diameter of the cable 100c, thereby providing an advantage during the connection to the power-feeding line. In a case where the first length L1 of the connector 10c is smaller by a factor of 0.25, damage may occur even when a weak mechanical force is applied to the connector 10c during handling in processing. In a case where the first length L1 of the connector 10c is greater by a factor of 1.5, the signal interference may occur, thereby reducing the antenna performance.

[0113] The thickness of the connector 10c is set to have a value between 100 µm and 400 µm, thereby providing an advantage in the soldering process. In a case where the thickness of the connector 10c is smaller than 100 µm, a bending phenomenon or damage may occur even when a weak mechanical force is applied to the connector 10c during handling in processing. In a case where the thickness of the connector 10c is greater than 400 µm, signal attenuation of a high-frequency signal may increase due to signal loss caused by the thickness of the connector 10c.

[0114] As described above, the surface of connector 10c may be coated with a material, such as lead (Pb). The surface of the connector 10c may be connected to the power-feeding line FL by heat treatment alone, thereby enhancing workability. The thickness of lead coated on the connector 10c is set to have a value between 5 µm and 50 µm, thereby providing an advantage during the soldering process. In a case where the thickness of the material coated on the connector 10c is smaller than 5 µm, the connector 10c may not be sufficiently connected to the power-feeding line during a preliminary junction process. In contrast, in a case where the thickness of the material coated on the connector 10c is greater than 50 µm, an excessive amount of lead may be present at a junction portion, thereby causing cold soldering, thermal damage, damage to adjacent regions, and difficulty in housing coupling operations.

[0115] In the connection structure of the vehicular transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure, the housing is formed and the metal film is formed on an inner surface of the housing in such a manner as to surround the cable to which the terminal structure is attached, thereby enabling an improvement in mechanical strength and an improvement in antenna performance.

[0116] The housing 1050 and a metal film 1060 in the connection structure of the transparent antenna module are described with reference to FIG. 15. The metal film 1060 may be formed on the inner surface of the housing 1050. The metal film 1060 may be formed by various methods, such as spray coating, dipping, screening, and sol-gel coating. A metal used for the metal film 1060 is copper or aluminum which have high electrical conductivity and are easy to process. In addition, various metals, such as nickel, iron, silver, and cobalt alloys may be used. To maximize shielding performance, coating thickness and material selection serve as critical factors. In response to requirements, an appropriate material for the metal film 1060 and a method of forming the metal film 1060 may be selected, taking into consideration coating thickness, uniformity, mechanical properties, and costs.

[0117] The thickness of the metal of the metal film 1060 coated on the housing 1050 may be formed within a range between 0.1 mm and 2 mm. In a case where the thickness of the metal of metal film 1060 is smaller than 0.1 mm, a reduction in shielding performance, susceptibility to wear and corrosion, and low mechanical strength may cause damage during processing. In contrast, in a case where the thickness of the metal of the metal film 1060 is greater than 2 mm, this may cause an increase in weight and cost, attenuation of the electromagnetic performance of high-frequency signals, and the like.

[0118] With reference to FIGS. 6 to 15, the vehicular antenna module 1000 according to the present disclosure is described. The transparent antenna module 1000 may be configured to include the flexible substrate 1200, the cable 100c, and the connector 10c. The transparent antenna module 1000 may be configured to further include the housing 1050. The transparent antenna module 1000 may be configured to further include the metal film 1060 formed on an inner surface of the housing 1050. The antenna module 1000 may further include the adhesive layer 1070 that fixes the housing 1050 to the flexible substrate 1200.

[0119] The flexible substrate 1200 may be arranged in the opaque region 11 of the glass panel 10. The metal pad MP may be arranged on the first portion P1 of the flexible substrate 1200. The power-feeding line FL may be arranged at the second portion P2 of the flexible substrate 1200, the second portion P2 being spaced apart from the first portion P1 thereof.

[0120] The cable 100c may include the signal line SL, the first conductor portion CP1 formed to surround the signal SL, the dielectric portion DP formed to surround the first conductor portion CP1, and the ground line GL formed to surround the dielectric portion DP. The cable 100c may be configured to further include the second conductor portion CP2 formed to surround the ground line GL. In this context, a first cross section at a first point on the cable 100c, the first point being connected to the power-feeding line FL, may include the signal line SL, the first conductor portion CP1, the dielectric portion DP, and the ground line GL.

[0121] A second cross section at a second point on the cable 100c arranged in the opaque region of the glass panel 10 outside the flexible substrate 1200 may include the signal line SL, the first conductor portion CP1, the dielectric portion DP, the second conductor portion CP2, and the ground line GL.

[0122] The connector 10c may be formed by coating the connection 10c with a metal material that melts when heated. The connector 10c may be coupled to a lower end of the ground line GL of the cable 100c. The connector 10c may be formed to have the first length L1 in one axial direction and a first width W1 in the other axial direction perpendicular to the one axial direction. The ground line GL of the cable 100c and the metal pad MP arranged on the first portion P1 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be electrically connected to each other by the connector 10c. Accordingly, a ground structure of the cable 100c and a ground structure of the flexible substrate 1200 may be coupled with a predetermined mechanical strength or greater. The signal line SL at one end portion of the cable 100c and the power-feeding line FL arranged on the second portion P2 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be connected to each other. Accordingly, a signal line structure of the cable 100c and a signal line structure of the flexible substrate 1200 may be coupled with a predetermined mechanical strength or greater.

[0123] The first portion P1 of the flexible substrate 1200, at which the connector 10c is arranged, may be formed to have a second length L2 in one axial direction. The first portion P1 of the flexible substrate 1200, at which the connector 10c is arranged, may be formed to have a second width W2. The first portion P1 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be formed as a dielectric region from which a metal pattern of a ground region is removed over a second width W2. The first portion P1 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be formed to have the second length L2 greater than the first length L1 of the connector 10c. The first portion P1 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be formed to have the second W2 greater than the first width W1 of the connector 10c.

[0124] The ground portions GP1 and GP2 may be formed on one side and the other side, respectively, of the power-feeding line FL on the second portion P2 of the flexible substrate 1200 in such a manner to be spaced apart from the power-feeding line FL. The power-feeding line FL on the first portion P2 of the flexible substrate 1200, and the ground portions GP1 and GP2 may form the co-planar waveguide (CPW) structure. The first portion P1 and the second portion P2 of the flexible substrate 1200 may form a first surface of the flexible substrate 1200. The ground region may be formed on a second surface of the flexible substrate 1200. The second surface of the flexible substrate 1200 may be attached to the opaque region 12 of the glass panel 10.

[0125] The housing 1050 may be formed in such a manner that the cable 100c is accommodated within an interior region of the housing 1050. The housing 1050 may include an upper structure UPS, a first lower support portion LPS1, a second lower support portion LSP2, a first lateral-surface connection portion SCP1, and a second lateral-surface connection portion SCP2. One end portion and the other end portion of the upper structure UPS may be connected to the first lateral-surface connection portion SCP1 and the second lateral-surface connection portion SCP2. A lower end portion of the first lateral-surface connection portion SCP1 may be connected to the first lower support portion LPS1. A lower end portion of the second lateral-surface connection portion SCP2 may be connected to the second lower support portion LPS2.

[0126] The housing 1050 may be formed to have a third length L3 or greater in such a manner that, in one axial direction, the housing 1050 covers the first portion P1 and the second portion P2 of the flexible substrate 1020. The housing 1050 may be formed to have a fourth length L4 or smaller in such a manner that the housing 1050 is arranged in the opaque region 12 of the glass panel 10. The housing 1050 may be formed to have the third width W3 in the other axial direction, the third width W3 being greater than the second width W2 in the first portion P1 of the flexible substrate 1200.

[0127] The metal film 1060 may be formed on the inner surface of the housing 1050. The metal film 1060 may be integrally formed with an inner surface of the upper structure UPS of the housing 1050, an inner surface of the first lateral-surface connection portion SCP1, an inner surface of the second lateral-surface connection portion SCP2, an inner surface of the first lower support portion LSP1, and an inner surface of the second lower support portion LSP2.

[0128] The metal film 1060 may be formed to have a thickness of 0.1 mm or greater to ensure shielding performance. The metal film 1060 may be formed to have a thickness of 2.0 mm or smaller in such a manner that signal loss of the signal line SL on the cable 100c and signal loss of the power-feeding line FL on the flexible substrate 1200 are at or below a predetermined level.

[0129] The connector 10c may be formed to have the first length L1 in one axial direction, the first length L1 being equal to or greater than 0.25 times the diameter of the cable 100c, in order to prevent damage when performing fixation during a soldering process. The connector 10c may be formed to have the first length L1 equal to or smaller than 1.5 times the diameter of the cable 100c, in such a manner that signal interference between the signal line SL and the power-feeding line FL is at or below a predetermined level.

[0130] The connector 10c may be formed to have the first width W1 in the other axial direction, the first width W1 being equal to or greater than 1.5 times the diameter of the cable 100c, in order to ensure the fixation during the soldering process. The connector 10c may be formed to have the first width W1 in the other axial direction, the first width W1 being equal to or smaller than three times the diameter of the cable 100c, in such a manner that the signal loss of the signal line SL and the signal loss of the power-feeding line FL are at or below the predetermined level.

[0131] The connector 10c may be formed to have a diameter of 100 µm or greater in order to prevent bending and damage during a process. The connector 10c may be formed to have a thickness of 400 µm or smaller in such a manner that the signal loss of the signal line SL and the signal loss of the power-feeding line FL are at or below the predetermined level.

[0132] A metal material may be coated on the connector 10c in such a manner as to have a thickness of 5 µm or greater to enable connection to the power-feeding line. The metal material may be coated on the connector 10c in such a manner as to have a thickness of 50 µm or smaller in order to prevent a cold solder joint and to ensure electrical isolation from the metal film 1060 on the inner surface of the housing 1050.

[0133] One end portion of the flexible substrate 1200 may be arranged at a boundary of the opaque region 12 of the glass panel 10. The cable holder 10h may be spaced apart from the other end portion of the flexible substrate 1200 by a predetermined distance. The cable holder 10h may be configured to be formed to surround the cable 100c and to fix the cable 100c. The cable holder 10h may be formed to surround the second conductor portion CP2 of the cable 100c and may be configured to fix the cable 100c to the opaque region 12 of the glass panel 10.

[0134] The housing 1050, inside which the cable 100c is accommodated, may be formed to have a rectangular or circular cross section. In this context, with reference to FIG. 6 and (c) of FIG. 8, the lower region of the housing 1050 may be formed to have the circular first cross section with the first diameter D1. The lower region of the housing 1050 may be formed to have the circular second cross section with the second diameter D2.

[0135] With reference to FIGS. 6 to 15, the lower region of housing 1050 may be formed to have the circular cross section with the first diameter D1 in a manner that corresponds to the shape of the cable 100c. The lower end portion of housing 1050 may be formed to have the circular cross section with the second diameter D2 in such a manner that the cable 100c remains fixed by the cable holder 10h. The lower end portion of the housing 1050 may be formed to have the circular second cross section with the second diameter D2 smaller than the first diameter D1 of the first cross section of the lower region of the housing 1050.

[0136] The adhesive layer 1070 may be arranged between the metal film 1060 and the ground portions GP1 and GP2 in such a manner that the metal film 1060 is bonded to the ground portions GP1 and GP2 on the flexible substrate 1200. The adhesive layer 1070 may be formed of a non-conductive material. Accordingly, the metal film 1060 formed on the inner surface of housing 1050 may be formed to have a floating structure electrically separated from the ground portions GP1 and GP2. An opening in the adhesive layer 1070 may be formed at positions corresponding to the first portion P1 and the second portion P2 of the flexible substrate 1200. Accordingly, the adhesive layer 1070 may be separated from a metal pad on the first portion P1 of the flexible substrate 1200 and from the power-feeding line FL on the second portion P2 thereof.

[0137] As one example, the adhesive layer 1070 may be formed of a conductive material. Accordingly, the metal film 1060 may be formed on the inner surface of the housing 1050 in such a manner as to have a ground structure electrically connected to the ground portions GP1 and GP2. The opening region in the adhesive layer 1070 may be formed at positions corresponding to the first portion P1, the second portion P2, and the power-feeding line FL on the flexible substrate 1200. Accordingly, the adhesive layer 1070 may be electrically isolated from the metal pad on the first portion P1 of the flexible substrate 1200 and from the power-feeding line FL on the second portion P2 thereof.

[0138] As another example, the adhesive layer 1070 may be formed of a non-conductive material. A boundary of an upper portion of the adhesive layer 1070 may be arranged under a lower end of the connection portion of the power-feeding line FL. Accordingly, the adhesive layer 1070 may be electrically isolated from the metal pad on the first portion P1 of the flexible substrate 1200 and from the power-feeding line FL on the second portion P2 thereof.

[0139] In the transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure, one end portion and the other end portion of the flexible substrate 1200 may be connected to a stacking structure of the antenna region and to the cable 100c, respectively. In this context, FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view illustrating that, in the transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure, one end portion and the other end portion of the flexible substrate are connected to the stacking structure of the antenna region and to the cable, respectively.

[0140] With reference to FIGS. 6, 15, and 16, in order to enhance the durability of the transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure, the housing 1050 is proposed which fixes a junction portion between the antenna pattern and the power-feeding line FL and a connection portion connecting the power-feeding line FL and the cable 100c. The antenna module proposed according to the present disclosure may employ a structure that fixes the AFC bonding portion, the power-feeding line FL, and the cable 100c, which are susceptible to vibration and shock.

[0141] In this regard, the structure that fixes the cable 100c may be configured as the connector 10c arranged at the first portion P1 of the flexible substrate 1200. The signal line SL on the cable 100c may be connected to the power-feeding line FL arranged at the second portion P2 of the flexible substrate 1200. The antenna pattern corresponding to a plurality of antenna elements may be connected to the power-feeding line FL through the third portion P3 of the flexible substrate 1200 that is configured as the AFC bonding portion.

[0142] The transparent antenna may be attached to the glass panel 10 of the vehicle using an optically clear adhesive (OCA). The housing 1050 having an adhesive attached thereto may be used to fix the junction portion between the antenna pattern and the power-feeding line FL, and the connection portion between the power-feeding line FL and the cable 100c. The housing 1050 may be formed to include the metal film 1060. When the transparent antenna is mounted on the glass pane of the vehicle, the transparent antenna may include the plurality of antenna elements that are arranged adjacently.

[0143] Electromagnetic-wave interference may occur due to adjacent antennas. In this context, when the housing 1050 coated with the metal film 1060 is employed, a shielding structure for the power-feeding line FL covered by the housing 1050 coated with the metal film 1060 may be formed. The shielding structure of the housing 1050 coated with the metal film 1060 may reduce noise caused by external signals, thereby reducing signal loss that occurs when signals are transferred.

[0144] With reference to FIGS. 6, 15, and 16, the third portion P3 of the flexible substrate 1200, the third portion P3 being formed adjacent to a boundary between the transparent region 11 and the opaque region 12 of the glass panel 10, may be coupled to an end of the antenna region 1100 formed in the transparent region 11. The third portion P3 of the flexible substrate 1200 may include the power-feeding line FL, and the first ground portion GP1 and the second ground portion GP2 that are arranged to be spaced apart from one side and the other side, respectively, of the power-feeding line FL.

[0145] The antenna region 1100 arranged in the transparent region 11 of the glass panel 10 may be configured to include a first adhesive layer 1001, a metal electrode layer 1100a, and a transparent substrate layer 1010. The first adhesive layer 1001 may be formed in such a manner as to be bonded to the transparent area 11 of the glass panel 10. The first adhesive layer 1001 may be formed of an acrylic or silicone-based adhesive. The metal electrode layer 1100a may be formed in such a manner as to be stacked on the first adhesive layer 1001. The metal electrode layer 1100a may be formed to have a structure in which resin is filled between metal grids formed of a metal material. The transparent substrate layer 1010 may be formed in such a manner as to be stacked on the metal electrode layer 1100a. The power-feeding line FL on the third portion P3 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be connected to an end of the antenna pattern on the metal electrode layer 1100a. The power-feeding line FL on the third portion P3 of the flexible substrate 1200 may be connected to one or more of the metal grids that form the metal electrode layer 1100a.

[0146] One end portion in one axial direction of the first adhesion layer 1001 may be formed in a manner aligned with one end portion of the transparent substrate layer 1010. The other end portion in the one axial direction of the first adhesive layer 1001 may be formed at a point positioned farther inward within the antenna region 1100 than the other end portion of the transparent substrate layer 1010. The other end portion in the one axial direction of the first adhesive layer 1001 may be arranged to be aligned with and in contact with a boundary of the third portion P3 of the flexible substrate 1200. The first adhesive layer 1001 may be formed to have the same thickness as the flexible substrate 1200 and the power-feeding line FL on the third portion P3.

[0147] The transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure may be arranged on the front glass pane of the vehicle. The transparent antenna module arranged on the front glass pane of the vehicle may be configured to include a plurality of antennas. In this context, FIG. 17 is a view illustrating antennas arranged on the front glass pane of the vehicle. FIGS. 18A and 18B are views, each illustrating the transparent antenna module including the first to fourth antennas in FIG. 17.

[0148] With reference to FIGS. 17 and 18A, the first antenna 1110 and the second antenna 1120 may be arranged in a first region 101R1 of the front glass pane 101 arranged in a front region of the vehicle. Respective end portions of the first antenna 1110 and the second antenna 1120 may be connected to a first power-feeding line FL1 on a first flexible substrate 1200a and a second power-feeding line FL2 on a second flexible substrate 1200. The first power-feeding line FL1 on the first flexible substrate 1200a may be connected to a first cable 110c. The second power-feeding line FL2 on the second flexible substrate 1200 may be connected to a second cable 120c.

[0149] With reference to FIGS. 17 and 18B, a third antenna 1130 and a fourth antenna 1140 may be arranged in a second region 101R2 of the front glass pane 101 arranged in the front region of the vehicle. Respective end portions of the third antenna 1130 and the fourth antenna 1140 may be connected to a third power-feeding line FL3 on a third flexible substrate 1200c, and a fourth power-feeding line FL4 on a fourth flexible substrate 1200, respectively. The third power-feeding line FL3 on the third flexible substrate 1200c may be connected to a third cable 130c. The fourth power-feeding line FL3 on the third flexible substrate 1200c may be connected to a fourth flexible cable 140c.

[0150] With reference to FIGS. 6 and 16 to 18B, the glass panel 10 may be the front glass pane 101 arranged in the front region of the vehicle. The first antenna 1110 and the second antenna 1120 may be arranged on the antenna region 1100 that corresponds to a transparent regions 101a of the front glass pane 101. The cable 100c may be configured to include the first cable 110c and the second cable 120c. The first cable 110c may be connected to an end portion of the first antenna 1110 through the first power-feeding line FL1. The second cable 120c may be connected to an end portion of the second antenna 1110 through the second power-feeding line FL2.

[0151] A plurality of antenna elements may be arranged in an upper-left region and an upper-right region of the front glass pane 101 of the vehicle. In this context, the plurality of antenna elements may be configured to include the first to fourth antennas 1110 to 1140.

[0152] In this context, an opaque region 101b of the front glass pane 101 may be formed to have a first perpendicular length Lv1 in the first region 101R1 and the second region 101R2 in a perpendicular axial direction of the front glass pane 101. A third region 101R3 may be formed between the first region 101R1 and the second region 101R2 of the front glass pane 101. The opaque region 101b may be formed in the third region 101R3 between the first region 101R1 and the second region 101R2 of the front glass pane 101 in such a manner as to have a second perpendicular length Lv2 greater than the first perpendicular length Lv1.

[0153] The first antenna 1110 and the second antenna 1120 may be arranged in the first region 101R1 of the front glass pane 101. The third antenna 1130 and the fourth antenna 1140 may be arranged in the second region 101R2 of the front glass pane 101.

[0154] In the transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure, the cable structure may be connected to the metal pad on the flexible substrate either without the connector or through the connector. In this context, FIG. 19 is a view illustrating a first cable structure connected to the metal pad on the flexible substrate without the connector and a second cable structure connected to the metal pad on the flexible substrate through the connector in the transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure. FIG. 20 is a graph illustrating a comparison of signal performance between the first cable structure and the second cable structure in FIG. 19.

[0155] With reference to FIGS. 19 and 20, the first cable structure connected to the metal pad on the flexible substrate without the connector and the first cable structure connected to the metal pad on the flexible substrate through the connector have insertion loss characteristics that are substantially the same as those over the entire frequency band.

[0156] The second cable structure has a lower insertion loss value than the first cable structure in frequency ranges from 2.25 GHz to 2.5 GHz and from 2.9 GHz to 3.5 GHz within an operational frequency band of the transparent antenna module. The second cable structure has a lower insertion loss value than the first cable structure in a frequency range from 2.9 GHz to 4.5 GHz within the operational frequency band of the transparent antenna module. With reference to FIGS. 6, 14, 19, and 20, the connection structure that uses the connector 10c, and the housing 1050 that is coated with the metal film 1060, reduce the insertion loss value of the second cable structure. Accordingly, the connection structure that uses the connector 10c, and the housing 1050 that is coated with the metal film 1060, make it possible to enhance the mechanical strength and electrical characteristics of the cable 100c.

[0157] The vehicular high-durability transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure has been described above. The technical effects of the vehicular high-durability transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure are described as follows.

[0158] According to the present disclosure, the vehicular transparent antenna module, which is capable of being arranged on a side glass pane, a front glass pane, a sunroof, a side mirror, and a headlamp, can be employed for 5G and V2X communications without being subject to the vehicular design constraints.

[0159] According to the present disclosure, a step can be formed in a junction portion of a cable connected to a flexible substrate on which a power-feeding line is formed, thereby simplifying a junction process and securely fixing the power-feeding line and the cable.

[0160] According to the present disclosure, by forming a step in the ground wire of the cable using the connector, the contact region with the power-feeding line can be broadened, and lead can be applied to the contact portion, thereby connecting the power-feeding line and the cable using less heat.

[0161] According to the present disclosure, the ACF bonding portion, the power-feeding line, and the cable that are susceptible to vibration and shock can be protected using the housing.

[0162] According to the present disclosure, the shielding structure of the interior of the housing can reduce noise caused by external signals and can reduce signal loss occurring between transmitted antenna signals.

[0163] According to the present disclosure, effects, such as process simplification, a reduction in defect occurrence, prevention of damage due to vehicle vibration or shock, and an improvement in signal performance can be achieved through the formation of a step in the cable and through the housing structure design.

[0164] The additional scope of applicability of the present specification will become apparent from the following detailed description. Furthermore, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the detailed description and specific embodiments, including the preferred embodiment, are provided as illustrative examples only.

[0165] The detailed descriptions should not serve the purpose of limiting the interpretation of all constituent elements according to the present disclosure, and should be considered as serving illustrative purposes only. The scope of the present disclosure should be determined by the proper construction of the following claims. All equivalent modifications and variations to the embodiments of the present disclosure fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0042]Embodiments disclosed in the present specification will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The identical or similar constituent elements are represented by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions thereof are not omitted. The terms "module" and "unit" are hereinafter used interchangeably to name constituent elements solely for convenience of description in the present specification. These terms are not intended to have different meanings or to indicate different functions. In addition, in describing the embodiments disclosed in the present specification, detailed descriptions of well-known related technologies may be omitted when such descriptions are deemed to obscure the nature and gist of the present disclosure. In addition, the accompanying drawings are provided solely to aid understanding of the embodiment that is disclosed in the present specification, and the technical idea that is disclosed in the present specificat...

Claims

1. A vehicular transparent antenna module comprising: a flexible substrate arranged on an opaque region of a glass panel, a metal pad being arranged on a first portion of the flexible substrate, and a power-feeding line being arranged on a second portion spaced apart from the first portion; an antenna region arranged in a transparent region of the glass panel; a cable including a signal line, a first conductor portion formed to surround the signal line, a dielectric portion formed to surround the first conductor portion, and a ground line formed to surround the dielectric portion; and a connector coated with a metal material, coupled to a lower end portion of the ground line of the cable, and formed to have a first length in one axial direction of the flexible substrate and a first width in the other second axial direction perpendicular to the one axial direction, wherein the ground line of the cable and the metal pad arranged on the first portion of the flexible substrate are electrically connected to each other by the connector, and wherein the signal line at one end portion of the cable and the power-feeding line arranged on the second portion of the flexible substrate are connected to each other.

2. The vehicular transparent antenna module of claim 1, wherein the flexible substrate and the cable are arranged in an opaque region of an upper end portion of a front glass pane of a vehicle, wherein a metal electrode layer in the antenna region is arranged on the front glass pane, and wherein the cable is arranged in one axial direction corresponding to a perpendicular axial direction of the opaque region.

3. The vehicular transparent antenna module of claim 1, wherein the flexible substrate and the cable are arranged in an opaque region of an upper end portion of a front glass pane of a vehicle, wherein the flexible substrate includes a first region arranged between a first glass pane and a second glass pane of the glass panel, a second region arranged on a lateral surface of the first glass pane, and a third region arranged on a front surface of the first glass pane, wherein a metal electrode layer in the antenna region is arranged between the first glass pane and the second glass pane, and wherein the cable connected to the third region of the flexible substrate is arranged in the other axial direction corresponding to a horizontal-axis direction of the opaque region.

4. The vehicular transparent antenna module of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the flexible substrate is formed as a ground region in which a metal pattern having a second length in the one axial direction and a second width in the other axial direction is formed, wherein the first portion and the second portion of the flexible substrate forms a first surface of the flexible substrate, wherein a second surface of the flexible substrate is attached on the opaque region of the glass panel, and wherein the metal pattern is formed to have the second length greater than the first length and the second width greater than the first length.

5. The vehicular transparent antenna module of claim 1, wherein a first cross section at a first point on the cable connected to the power-feeding line formed on the flexible substrate is formed to include the signal line, the first conductor portion, the dielectric portion, and the power-feeding line, and wherein a second cross section at a second point on the cable arranged in the opaque region outside the flexible substrate is formed to include the signal line, the first conductor portion, the dielectric portion, the ground line, and a second conductor portion.

6. The vehicular transparent antenna module of claim 4, further comprising: a housing including an upper structure, a first lower support portion, a second lower support portion, a first lateral-surface connection portion, and a second lateral-surface connection portion in such a manner that the cable is accommodated within an interior region of the housing, wherein the housing is formed to have a third length or greater in such a manner that, in the one axial direction, the housing covers the first portion and the second portion, wherein the housing is formed to have a fourth length or smaller in such a manner that the housing is arranged in the opaque region, and wherein the housing is formed to have a third width in the other axial direction, the third width being greater than the second width.

7. The vehicular transparent antenna module of claim 6, further comprising: a metal film integrally formed with an inner surface of the upper structure of the housing, an inner surface of the first lateral-surface connection portion, an inner surface of the second lateral surface connection portion, an inner surface of the first lower support portion, and an inner surface of the second lower support portion.

8. The vehicular transparent antenna module of claim 7, wherein the metal film is formed to have a thickness of 0.1 mm or greater to ensure shielding performance, and wherein the metal film is formed to have a thickness of 2.0 mm or smaller in such a manner that signal loss of the signal line and signal loss of the power-feeding line are at or below a predetermined level.

9. The vehicular transparent antenna module of claim 1, wherein the connector is formed to have the first length that is equal to or greater than 0.25 times the diameter of the cable, in order to prevent damage when performing fixation during a soldering process, and wherein the connector is formed to have the first length that is equal to or smaller than 1.5 times the diameter of the cable, in such a manner that signal interference between the signal line and the power-feeding line is at or below a predetermined level.

10. The vehicular transparent antenna module of claim 9, wherein the connector is formed to have the first width that is equal to or greater than 1.5 times the diameter of the cable, in order to ensure the fixation during the soldering process, and wherein the connector is formed to have the first width that is equal to or smaller than three times the diameter of the cable, in such a manner that the signal interference between the signal line and the power-feeding line is at or below the predetermined level.

11. The vehicular transparent antenna module of claim 7, wherein the connector is formed to have a thickness of 100 µm or greater in order to prevent bending and damage during a process, and wherein the connector is formed to have a thickness of 400 µm or smaller in such a manner that signal loss of the signal line and signal loss of the power-feeding line are at or below a predetermined level.

12. The vehicular transparent antenna module of claim 11, wherein the metal material is coated on the connector in such a manner as to have a thickness of 5 µm or greater to enable connection to the power-feeding line, and wherein the metal material is coated on the connector in such a manner as to have a thickness of 50 µm or smaller in order to prevent a cold solder joint and to ensure electrical isolation from the metal film on an inner surface of the housing.

13. The vehicular transparent antenna module of claim 7, wherein one end portion of the flexible substrate is arranged at a boundary of the opaque region, and wherein a cable holder is further arranged to be spaced apart by a predetermined distance from the other end portion of the flexible substrate so as to surround the cable, thereby fixing the cable.

14. The vehicular transparent antenna module of claim 13, wherein a lower region of the housing is formed to have a circular cross section with a first diameter in a manner that corresponds to a shape of the cable, wherein a lower end portion of the housing is formed to have a circular cross section with a second diameter in such a manner that the cable remains fixed by the cable holder, and wherein the second diameter is smaller than the first diameter.

15. The vehicular transparent antenna module of claim 14, further comprising: an adhesive layer formed of a non-conductive material and arranged between the metal film and the ground region in such a manner that the metal film is bonded to a ground region of the flexible substrate, wherein an opening in the adhesive layer is formed at positions corresponding to the first portion and the second portion, and the adhesive layer is separated from the metal pad on the first portion of the flexible substrate and from the power-feeding line on the second portion thereof.

16. The vehicular transparent antenna module of claim 14, wherein a third portion of the flexible substrate, the third portion being formed adjacent to a boundary between the transparent region and the opaque region, is coupled to an end portion of an antenna region formed in the transparent region, and wherein the third portion includes the power-feeding line, and a first ground portion and a second ground portion that are arranged to be spaced apart from one side and the other side, respectively, of the power-feeding line.

17. The vehicular transparent antenna module of claim 16, wherein the antenna region comprises: a first adhesive layer attached to the transparent region of the glass panel; a metal electrode layer formed to be stacked on the first adhesive layer; and a transparent substrate layer formed to be stacked on the metal electrode layer, wherein the power-feeding line in the third portion is connected to an end portion of an antenna pattern on the metal electrode layer.

18. The vehicular transparent antenna module of claim 17, wherein one end portion in the one axial direction of the first adhesive layer is formed in a manner aligned with one end portion of the transparent substrate layer, wherein the other end portion in the one axial direction of the first adhesive layer is formed at a point positioned farther inward within the antenna region than the other end portion of the transparent substrate layer, wherein the other end portion of the first adhesive layer is arranged to be aligned with and in contact with a boundary of the third portion of the flexible substrate, and wherein the first adhesive layer is formed to have a thickness that is equal to the sum of the thickness of the flexible substrate and the thickness of the power-feeding line on the third portion.

19. The vehicular transparent antenna module of claim 17, wherein the glass panel is a front glass pane arranged in a front region of a vehicle, wherein a first antenna and a second antenna are arranged in the antenna region corresponding to the transparent region of the front glass pane, and wherein the cable includes a first cable and a second cable that are connected to an end portion of the first antenna and an end portion of the second antenna, respectively.

20. The vehicular transparent antenna module of claim 19, wherein the opaque region is formed to have a first perpendicular length in a first region and a second region in a perpendicular axial direction of the front glass pane, wherein the opaque region is formed in a third region between the first region and the second region in such a manner as to have a second perpendicular length greater than the first perpendicular length, and wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are arranged in the first region, and a third antenna and a fourth antenna are arranged in the second region.

Images