Antenna device and method of manufacturing antenna device

Abstract

To provide an easy-to-repair antenna device.SOLUTION: An antenna device (101) is provided, comprising : a lens (1) which is an assembly of a plurality of first dielectric components (6), the lens including an annular radio wave focusing portion having at least one of an inside surface (4) and an outside surface (5) of a ring curved; and an antenna (2) arranged at a position encircled with the inside surface (4) of the ring.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an antenna device and a method for manufacturing an antenna device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses an antenna system comprising a focusing device having a rotational profile formed by rotating the cross section of a dielectric lens around an axis placed on its plane, and a common substrate on which radiating elements are printed, which is arranged at the center of symmetry and on a horizontal plane of the focusing device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-137009 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the radiating element is provided at a position surrounded by a dielectric lens, making it difficult to replace the radiating element and repair the antenna system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] An antenna device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a lens including an annular radio wave focusing portion, in which at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface of the ring is curved, the lens being an assembly of a plurality of first dielectric components, and an antenna positioned in a position surrounded by the inner surface of the ring. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an antenna device that is easy to repair can be realized. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an antenna device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a lens. [Figure 3] 3 shows an example of a radiation pattern of the antenna device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a modified example of the antenna device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an antenna device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] 3A and 3B are side views showing examples of a plurality of first dielectric components, a plurality of second dielectric components, and a plurality of third dielectric components. [Figure 7] 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating a method for manufacturing an antenna device according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another example of a lens. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following describes an embodiment of the present disclosure. For convenience of explanation, the same reference numerals are used to designate components having the same functions as those previously described, and the description thereof may not be repeated.

[0009] [Embodiment 1] Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an antenna device 101 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an example of a lens 1. Fig. 3 shows drawings 1001 and 1002, each of which shows an example of a radiation pattern of the antenna device 101 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. The antenna device 101 includes a lens 1, an antenna 2, and a jig 3.

[0010] Lens 1 includes an annular radio wave focusing portion 25. Lens 1 has the function of diverging or focusing radio waves. Radio wave focusing portion 25 may be a portion of lens 1 that constitutes at least a part of a system that has the function of diverging or focusing radio waves. In FIG. 2, lens 1 is annular. In radio wave focusing portion 25, at least one of inner surface 4 and outer surface 5 of the ring is curved. Lens 1 is an assembly of multiple first dielectric components 6. The Z axis indicates the axis of the ring, and the X axis, Y axis, and Z axis are perpendicular to each other.

[0011] The antenna 2 is disposed at a position surrounded by the inner surface 4 of the ring. The antenna 2 can be understood as being disposed in the space inside the hollow lens 1. The jig 3 holds the lens 1.

[0012] According to the antenna device 101, when replacing the antenna 2, the lens 1 can be disassembled by removing at least one of the plurality of first dielectric parts 6 from the remaining plurality of first dielectric parts 6, and the antenna 2 can be replaced with the lens 1 disassembled. Therefore, an antenna device 101 that is easy to repair can be realized.

[0013] The lens 1 may have an opening 8 through which a cable 7 connected to the antenna 2 is passed. This allows the cable 7 to be easily drawn out of the antenna device 101.

[0014] An example of an application of the antenna device 101 is, but is not limited to, an antenna for inter-vehicle communication. Examples of applications of the antenna device 101 other than an antenna for inter-vehicle communication include a sensor and a radar.

[0015] Specific examples of the shape of lens 1 include hollow shapes such as a cylinder and a pot. Lens 1 may have the function of converging radio waves onto antenna 2. The shape of lens 1 may be symmetrical about the Z axis. The diameter of lens 1 on a plane defined by the X-axis and Y-axis directions may be up to approximately 45 mm. The shape of lens 1 is not limited to being symmetrical about the Z axis. Lens 1 is not limited to being a convex lens, and may also be a concave lens or a lens including a flat surface. Figure 8 is a perspective view of another example of lens 1. Lens 1 may have an opening 23 in the Z-axis direction as shown in Figure 2, or may be closed without an opening 23 as shown in Figure 8. Even in this case, radio wave focusing portion 25 remains annular.

[0016] Each of the plurality of first dielectric components 6 functions as a part of the lens 1. Therefore, the material of each of the plurality of first dielectric components 6 may be a material used in general lenses, such as resin, glass, glass ceramics, and ceramics.

[0017] Antenna 2 may have a horizontal beam width of 360°. Examples include a dipole antenna and a monopole antenna. Antenna 2 may have a horizontal beam width smaller than 360°. Examples include a dipole antenna with a reflector, a patch antenna, a collinear antenna, and a probe antenna. This increases the gain in the forward direction. Antenna 2 may have the function of converting between radio waves and electrical signals. Antenna 2 may have a metal plate that serves as a ground for antenna 2 and functions as a reflector for antenna 2 (the function of emitting radio waves forward).

[0018] The jig 3 may hold components other than the lens 1, such as the antenna 2 and the cable 7. The cable 7 may connect the antenna 2 to a communication device (not shown) for communication between the antenna 2 and the communication device. The connector of the cable 7 may have an anti-loosening mechanism. Examples of the anti-loosening mechanism include a self-locking mechanism and a wire locking mechanism. As will be described in detail later, the cable 7 may be fastened and fixed by a cable fixing jig. This reduces the risk of the cable 7 coming off the antenna 2 when connecting the cable 7 to another cable or when the cable 7 is pulled or rotated due to vibration.

[0019] In the antenna device 101, the provision of the lens 1 makes it possible to narrow the beam width in the vertical direction, thereby significantly increasing the gain in the horizontal direction.

[0020] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a modified example of the antenna device 101 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. In the antenna device 101 shown in Fig. 1, the opening 8 is formed on the side surface of the lens 1, and the cable 7 is drawn out in the horizontal direction. As in the modified example of the antenna device 101 shown in Fig. 4, the opening 8 may be formed on the top or bottom surface of the lens 1, and the cable 7 may be drawn out in the vertical direction.

[0021] [Embodiment 2] 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an antenna device 101 according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure. The antenna device 101 includes a lens 1, an antenna 2, a jig 3, a first holding member 9, and a second holding member 10.

[0022] The first holding member 9 holds the lens 1 at a position surrounded by the inner surface 4 of the ring. The first holding member 9 may be an assembly of a plurality of second dielectric components 11. This allows the first holding member 9 to be disassembled when replacing the antenna 2 by removing at least one of the plurality of second dielectric components 11 from the rest of the plurality of second dielectric components 11, and the antenna 2 can be replaced with the first holding member 9 disassembled. Therefore, an antenna device 101 that is easy to repair can be realized.

[0023] The second holding member 10 holds the lens 1 from outside the outer surface 5 of the ring. The second holding member 10 may be an assembly of a plurality of third dielectric components 12. This allows the second holding member 10 to be disassembled when replacing the antenna 2 by removing at least one of the plurality of third dielectric components 12 from the rest of the plurality of third dielectric components 12, and the antenna 2 can be replaced with the second holding member 10 disassembled. Therefore, an antenna device 101 that is easy to repair can be realized.

[0024] The jig 3 may include a positioning member 13, a lower disk portion 14, an upper disk portion 15, a stay 16, and a cable fixing jig 24. The positioning member 13 aligns the first dielectric component 6 and thus the lens 1, the second dielectric component 11 and thus the first holding member 9, and the third dielectric component 12 and thus the second holding member 10. The lower disk portion 14 and the upper disk portion 15 each fix the third dielectric component 12 and thus the second holding member 10 from the outside. This reduces the risk of the second holding member 10 unintentionally disassembling into multiple third dielectric components 12. The stay 16 firmly fixes the lens 1, the first holding member 9, and the second holding member 10 in the Z-axis direction. The cable fixing jig 24 tightens and fixes the cable 7. This reduces the risk of cable 7 coming off antenna 2 when connecting cable 7 to another cable, or when cable 7 is pulled or rotated due to vibration.

[0025] The upper and lower positioning members 13 are fixed to each other via a connecting plate 17. The antenna 2 may be connected to the connecting plate 17. The connecting plate 17 may be a metal plate such as an aluminum plate. This allows the connecting plate 17 to function as a reflector for the antenna 2 (a function of emitting radio waves forward).

[0026] The first holding member 9 abuts against and covers the inner surface 4 of the ring, and the dielectric constant of the second dielectric component 11 may be smaller than the dielectric constant of the radio wave focusing portion 25. This allows the first holding member 9, which is a member for holding the lens 1, to have the function of suppressing reflection of radio waves in the antenna device 101 and improving the characteristics of the antenna device 101.

[0027] The second holding member 10 abuts against and covers the outer surface 5 of the ring, and the dielectric constant of the third dielectric component 12 may be smaller than the dielectric constant of the radio wave focusing portion 25. This allows the second holding member 10, which is a member for holding the lens 1, to have the function of suppressing reflection of radio waves in the antenna device 101 and improving the characteristics of the antenna device 101.

[0028] Each of the plurality of second dielectric components 11 and the plurality of third dielectric components 12 can function as a member that suppresses reflection of radio waves in the antenna device 101. Examples of materials for each of the plurality of second dielectric components 11 and the plurality of third dielectric components 12 include resin, glass, glass ceramics, and ceramics.

[0029] The lens 1 and the second holding member 10 may be pressed in the Z-axis (ring axis) direction. The pressing of the lens 1 and the second holding member 10 may be performed by pressing the lens 1 and the second holding member 10 from one or both sides in the Z-axis direction using the jig 3. This reduces the risk that the lens 1 and the second holding member 10 will unintentionally separate into multiple corresponding dielectric components.

[0030] FIG. 6 is a side view showing an example of each of the plurality of first dielectric components 6, the plurality of second dielectric components 11, and the plurality of third dielectric components 12. As shown in FIG.

[0031] When the lens 1 and the second holding member 10 are pressed in the Z-axis direction, at least one boundary 18 formed between the multiple third dielectric components 12 may extend in the Z-axis direction. This reduces the risk that the multiple third dielectric components 12 will slide relative to each other in a direction other than the Z-axis direction. This reduces the risk that the second holding member 10 will unintentionally break down into multiple third dielectric components 12 or that the characteristics of the second holding member 10 will unintentionally change.

[0032] Boundary 19, which is at least one of the boundaries formed by the multiple first dielectric components 6, may extend in a direction approximately perpendicular to the Z-axis direction. Based on the same principle as boundary 18, when the lens 1 and second holding member 10 are pressed in the Z-axis direction, boundary 20, which is at least one of the boundaries formed by the multiple second dielectric components 11, may extend in the Z-axis direction.

[0033] "The boundary extends in the Z-axis direction" can be expressed as the boundary being parallel to the Z-axis when viewed from the front. "The boundary extends in a direction approximately perpendicular to the Z-axis direction" can be expressed as the boundary being perpendicular to the Z-axis when viewed from the front.

[0034] [Embodiment 3] 7A and 7B are diagrams illustrating a method for manufacturing the antenna device 101 according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure. The method for manufacturing the antenna device 101 includes steps S1 to S7.

[0035] In step S1, a first dielectric component 21, which is one of the plurality of first dielectric components 6, is placed on the lower disk portion 14.

[0036] In step S2, positioning member 13 is inserted into the opening of first dielectric component 21, and then positioning member 13 and lower disk portion 14 are fixed together, thereby positioning first dielectric component 21 with positioning member 13. In step S2, antenna 2 is positioned.

[0037] In step S3, a first holding member 9 is provided. In step S4, a remaining first dielectric component 22 of the plurality of first dielectric components 6 is further arranged. In step S5, a second holding member 10 is provided.

[0038] In step S6, the positioning member 13 is fixed to the upper disk portion 15. In step S7, the stay 16 is provided.

[0039] In the above-described method for manufacturing antenna device 101, antenna 2 is arranged before completing the assembly of the plurality of first dielectric components 6. This makes it easy to arrange antenna 2 in a position surrounded by inner surface 4 of the ring, and therefore antenna device 101 can be easily manufactured.

[0040] (summary) The antenna device according to aspect 1 of the present disclosure comprises a lens including an annular radio wave focusing portion, in which at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface of the ring is curved, the lens being an assembly of a plurality of first dielectric components, and an antenna positioned in a position surrounded by the inner surface of the ring.

[0041] The antenna device according to a second aspect of the present disclosure is the antenna device of the first aspect, further comprising a first holding member that holds the lens from a position surrounded by the inner surface of the ring.

[0042] Aspect 3 of the present disclosure relates to the antenna device of aspect 2, wherein the first holding member is an assembly of a plurality of second dielectric components.

[0043] The antenna device according to aspect 4 of the present disclosure is the same as aspect 3, wherein the first retaining member abuts against and covers the inner surface of the ring, and the dielectric constant of the second dielectric part is smaller than the dielectric constant of the radio wave focusing portion.

[0044] The antenna device according to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure is in any one of the first to fourth aspects, further including a second holding member that holds the lens from outside the outer surface of the ring.

[0045] A sixth aspect of the present disclosure relates to the antenna device of the fifth aspect, wherein the second holding member is an assembly of a plurality of third dielectric components.

[0046] An antenna device according to aspect 7 of the present disclosure is the same as aspect 6, wherein the second retaining member abuts against and covers the outer surface of the ring, and the dielectric constant of the third dielectric part is smaller than the dielectric constant of the radio wave focusing portion.

[0047] According to an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, in the antenna device of the sixth or seventh aspect, the lens and the second holding member are pressed in the axial direction of the ring.

[0048] A ninth aspect of the present disclosure relates to the antenna device of the eighth aspect, wherein at least one of the boundaries formed by the plurality of third dielectric components extends in the axial direction of the ring.

[0049] An antenna device according to a tenth aspect of the present disclosure is any one of the first to ninth aspects, wherein the lens has an opening through which a cable connected to the antenna is passed.

[0050] An eleventh aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing an antenna device, in which the antenna is disposed before the assembly of the plurality of first dielectric components is completed.

[0051] A method for manufacturing an antenna device according to aspect 12 of the present disclosure includes, in aspect 11, positioning and arranging any one of the plurality of first dielectric components using a positioning member, and further arranging the remaining plurality of first dielectric components.

[0052] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1 lens 2 antennas 3 Jig 4. Inner surface of the ring 5. Outer surface of the ring 6, 21, 22 First dielectric part 7 Cable 8 aperture 9 First holding member 10 Second holding member 11 Second dielectric part 12 Third dielectric part 13 Positioning member 14 Disk Subordinate 15 On the disc 16 Stay 17 Connection plate 18, 19, 20 boundaries 23 Aperture 24 Cable fixing jig 25 Radio wave focusing section 101 Antenna device

Claims

1. a lens including an annular radio wave focusing portion, at least one of an inner surface of the ring and an outer surface of the ring being curved, the lens being an assembly of a plurality of first dielectric components; an antenna disposed at a position surrounded by the inner surface of the ring.

2. 2. The antenna device according to claim 1, further comprising a first holding member for holding the lens from a position surrounded by an inner surface of the ring.

3. The antenna device according to claim 2 , wherein the first retaining member is an assembly of a plurality of second dielectric components.

4. the first retaining member abuts against and covers the inner surface of the ring, The antenna device according to claim 3 , wherein the dielectric constant of the second dielectric part is smaller than the dielectric constant of the radio wave focusing portion.

5. The antenna device according to claim 1 , further comprising a second holding member that holds the lens from outside the outer surface of the ring.

6. The antenna device according to claim 5 , wherein the second holding member is an assembly of a plurality of third dielectric components.

7. the second retaining member abuts against and covers an outer surface of the ring, 7. The antenna device according to claim 6, wherein the third dielectric component has a dielectric constant smaller than the dielectric constant of the radio wave focusing portion.

8. The antenna device according to claim 6 , wherein the lens and the second holding member are pressed in an axial direction of the ring.

9. 9. The antenna device according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the boundaries formed by the plurality of third dielectric components extends in an axial direction of the ring.

10. The antenna device according to claim 1 , wherein the lens has an opening through which a cable connected to the antenna is passed.

11. A method for manufacturing an antenna device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, comprising the steps of: A method for manufacturing an antenna device, comprising: disposing the antenna before completing assembly of the plurality of first dielectric components.

12. Positioning and disposing any one of the plurality of first dielectric components by a positioning member; The method for manufacturing an antenna device according to claim 11 , further comprising arranging the remaining of the plurality of first dielectric components.

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