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

Transparent antenna module for vehicles

[0001] The present specification relates to a transparent antenna module for a vehicle. More specifically, it relates to a highly durable transparent antenna module for a vehicle.

[0002] As technology advances from 4G (LTE) to 5G communications, vehicle antennas are also continuously demanding network expandability from existing FM / AM antennas and LTE antennas to 5G antennas or V2X antennas.

[0003] In this regard, higher communication frequencies offer advantages such as improved transmission speeds and higher data transmission and reception volumes, as well as improved communication performance and quality. However, higher communication frequencies can easily lead to signal loss in the presence of obstacles. To minimize signal loss in the 5G band, materials with low dielectric constants and dielectric loss are required.

[0004] In particular, automotive antennas face diverse requirements, including antenna performance, including signal loss, as well as the ability to support future high-speed communications. These requirements include network scalability, design flexibility that doesn't compromise the vehicle's unique design, and ease of installation for actual vehicle installation.

[0005] The bonding process between the flexible substrate on which the feedline is placed and the rigid coaxial cable is difficult, which can lead to errors or defects, such as improper connection or disconnection. This can lead to poor signal transmission, which can degrade the performance of the transparent antenna.

[0006] Meanwhile, transparent antennas can be installed in a variety of locations, including the windshield, rear window, side windows, roof windows, side mirrors, and front lamps. Therefore, transparent antennas offer the significant advantage of allowing installation while maintaining their unique design and communication configuration. However, transparent antennas are film-based, making installation difficult using conventional antenna processes. Furthermore, they require a robust connection even in a vehicle's vibration environment.

[0007] This specification aims to address the aforementioned and other issues. The purpose of this specification is to propose a modular structure and protective cover structure that are easy to install and highly durable for use in vehicle environments when using a film-type transparent antenna.

[0008] The purpose of this specification is to simplify the method of connecting transparent antennas and cables to reduce errors or defects that may occur during the process.

[0009] The purpose of this specification is to reduce errors or defects that may occur during the process by step processing of cables connected to flat power lines.

[0010] The purpose of this specification is to protect the ACF bonding portion, which is the feed line and cable connection portion, using a housing so that the signal performance of a transparent antenna is not reduced.

[0011] The purpose of this specification is to prevent signal interference from the surrounding environment by coating a metal film on a protective cover such as a housing so that the signal performance of the antenna is not reduced.

[0012] The purpose of this specification is to expand the application of high-durability vehicle-use transparent antenna modules to 5G communication vehicles, autonomous vehicles, etc.

[0013] In order to achieve the above or other purposes, a transparent antenna module for a vehicle according to the present specification comprises: a flexible substrate disposed in an opaque area of ​​a glass panel, a metal pad disposed in a first portion, and a feed line disposed in a second portion spaced apart from the first portion; an antenna area disposed in a transparent area 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 of the ground line of the cable, and formed with a first length in one axial direction of the flexible substrate and a first width in another axial direction perpendicular to the one axial direction. The ground line of the cable and the metal pad disposed in the first portion of the flexible substrate are electrically connected by the connector. The signal line of one end of the cable and the feed line disposed in the second portion of the flexible substrate are connected.

[0014] According to an embodiment, the flexible substrate and the cable may be arranged in an opaque area on the upper portion of the windshield of the vehicle. The metal electrode layer of the antenna area may be arranged on the windshield. The cable may be arranged in an axial direction corresponding to the vertical axis direction of the opaque area.

[0015] According to an embodiment, the flexible substrate and the cable may be disposed in an opaque area of ​​an upper portion of a windshield of the vehicle. The flexible substrate may include a first area disposed between first and second glasses of the glass panel, a second area disposed on a side of the first glass, and a third area disposed on a front surface of the first glass. A metal electrode layer of the antenna area may be disposed between the first glass and the second glass. The cable connected to the third area of ​​the flexible substrate may be disposed in an axial direction corresponding to a horizontal axis direction of the opaque area.

[0016] According to an embodiment, the first portion of the flexible substrate may be formed as a ground region in which a metal pattern is formed with a second length in the one-axis direction and a second width in the other-axis direction. The first portion and the second portion of the flexible substrate may form a first surface of the flexible substrate. The second surface of the flexible substrate may be attached to the opaque region of the glass panel. The second length may be formed longer than the first length, and the second width may be formed wider than the first length.

[0017] According to an embodiment, a first cross-section of a first point of the cable connected to the feed line formed on the flexible substrate may be formed to include the signal line, the first conductor portion, the dielectric portion, and the ground line. A second cross-section of a second point of the cable disposed in the opaque region on the outside of the flexible substrate may be formed to include the signal line, the first conductor portion, the dielectric portion, the ground line, and the second conductor portion.

[0018] According to an embodiment, the transparent antenna module may further include a housing having an upper structure, a first lower support, a second lower support, a first side connection, and a second side connection so that the cable is accommodated in an inner region. The housing may be formed to have a third length or more to cover the first portion and the second portion in the one-axis direction, and the housing may be formed to have a fourth length or less so as to be disposed in the opaque region. A third width of the housing in the other-axis direction may be formed to be greater than the second width.

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

[0020] According to an embodiment, the thickness of the metal film may be formed to be 0.1 mm or more for shielding performance. The thickness of the metal film may be formed to be 2.0 mm or less so that the signal loss of the signal line and the feed line is below a certain level.

[0021] According to an embodiment, the first length of the connector may be formed to be at least 0.25 times the diameter of the cable to prevent damage during soldering and fixation. The first length of the connector may be formed to be at most 1.5 times the diameter of the cable to ensure that interference between signals of the signal line and the power line is below a certain level.

[0022] According to an embodiment, the first width of the connector may be formed to be at least 1.5 times the diameter of the cable for fixing during soldering. The first width of the connector may be formed to be at most 3 times the diameter of the cable so that interference between signals of the signal line and the power line is below a certain level.

[0023] According to an embodiment, the thickness of the connector may be formed to be 100 um or more to prevent bending and damage during the process. The thickness of the connector may be formed to be 400 um or less to ensure that signal loss of the signal line and the feed line is below a certain level.

[0024] According to an embodiment, the thickness of the metal material coated on the connector may be formed to be 5 μm or more for connection with the power line. The thickness of the metal material coated on the connector may be formed to be 50 μm or less for prevention of cold soldering and electrical isolation from the metal film on the inner surface of the housing.

[0025] According to an embodiment, one end of the flexible substrate may be positioned at a boundary of the opaque region. The transparent antenna module may further include a cable holder formed to surround the cable at a predetermined interval from the other end of the flexible substrate and configured to secure the cable.

[0026] According to an embodiment, the lower region of the housing may be formed into a circular cross-section with a first diameter corresponding to the shape of the cable. The lower portion of the housing may be formed into a circular cross-section with a second diameter so that the cable secured by the cable holder is secured. The second diameter may be formed smaller than the first diameter.

[0027] According to an embodiment, the transparent antenna module may further include an adhesive layer formed of a non-conductive material, the adhesive layer being disposed between the metal film and the ground region so as to adhere the metal film to the ground region of the flexible substrate. The adhesive layer may have an opening region formed in the first portion and the second portion, such that the adhesive layer may be separated from the metal pad and the feed line of the first portion and the second portion of the flexible substrate.

[0028] According to an embodiment, a third portion of the flexible substrate formed adjacent to a boundary between a transparent region and an opaque region may be coupled to an end of an antenna region formed in the transparent region. The third portion may include a first ground portion and a second ground portion spaced apart from the feed line and one side and the other side of the feed line.

[0029] According to an embodiment, the antenna region may include a first adhesive layer adhered to the transparent region of the glass panel; a metal electrode layer formed to be laminated on the first adhesive layer; and a transparent substrate layer formed to be laminated on the metal electrode layer. The feed line of the third portion may be connected to an end of the antenna pattern of the metal electrode layer.

[0030] According to an embodiment, one end of the first adhesive layer in the uniaxial direction may be formed to be aligned with one end of the transparent substrate layer. The other end of the first adhesive layer in the uniaxial direction may be formed at an inner point of the antenna region than the other end of the transparent substrate layer. The other end of the first adhesive layer may be arranged to be aligned to be in contact with the boundary of the third portion of the flexible substrate. The thickness of the first adhesive layer may be formed to be equal to the sum of the thickness of the flexible substrate and the thickness of the feed line of the third portion.

[0031] According to an embodiment, the glass panel may be a windshield disposed in the front area of ​​the vehicle. A first antenna and a second antenna may be disposed in the antenna area corresponding to the transparent area of ​​the windshield. The cable may include a first cable and a second cable connected to an end of the first antenna and an end of the second antenna.

[0032] According to an embodiment, the opaque region may be formed with a first vertical length in a first region and a second region in the vertical axis direction of the front glass. In a third region between the first region and the second region, the opaque region may be formed with a second vertical length longer than the first vertical length. The first antenna and the second antenna may be arranged in the first region, and the third antenna and the fourth antenna may be arranged in the second region.

[0033] The technical effects of the high-durability vehicle transparent antenna module according to this specification are described as follows.

[0034] According to this specification, a transparent antenna module for a vehicle that can be placed on the side window, windshield, sunroof, rear window, side mirror, and headlamp of a vehicle can be applied to 5G and V2X communications without being restricted by vehicle design.

[0035] According to this specification, the joining process can be simplified by performing terminal processing on the joining portion of the cable connected to the flexible substrate on which the power line is formed, and the power line and the cable can be firmly fixed.

[0036] According to this specification, the contact area with the power line is expanded by using a connector to terminate the ground wire of the cable, and by applying lead to the area, the power line and the cable can be connected with little heat.

[0037] According to this specification, the housing can be used to protect the ACF bonding portion, power lines and cables that may be vulnerable to vibration and shock.

[0038] According to this specification, the inside of the housing can be configured with a shielding structure to reduce noise caused by external signals and reduce signal loss occurring during antenna signal transmission.

[0039] According to this specification, the cable terminal processing and housing structure design can be expected to simplify the manufacturing process, reduce the defect rate, prevent damage caused by vehicle vibration or impact, and improve signal performance.

[0040] Further scope of the applicability of this specification will become apparent from the detailed description below. However, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of this specification will be apparent to those skilled in the art, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, such as preferred embodiments, are given by way of example only.

[0041] FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present specification.

[0042] Figure 2 is a configuration diagram of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present specification.

[0043] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a vehicle glass that can be joined or attached to the frame of the vehicle.

[0044] Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the glass of Figure 3 and the frame of the vehicle combined.

[0045] Figure 5 shows an antenna assembly and connector structure arranged in a transparent area and an opaque area of ​​a vehicle's glass.

[0046] Figure 6 shows an exploded perspective view of a vehicle transparent antenna module attached to a vehicle glass panel.

[0047] Figure 7 shows an enlarged view of the structure of a transparent substrate and a flexible substrate placed in a transparent area and an opaque area of ​​the glass panel of Figure 6, and a flexible substrate to which a cable is attached.

[0048] FIG. 8 shows a combined, exploded and cross-sectional view of the housing of the transparent antenna module of the on-glass structure of FIG. 6 placed on a glass panel.

[0049] Figure 9 shows a combined, exploded and cross-sectional view of a housing of a transparent antenna module with an in-glass structure placed on a glass panel.

[0050] Figures 10 to 12 illustrate cable structures of a transparent antenna module for a vehicle according to the present disclosure.

[0051] Figure 13 illustrates the processes of attaching a cable of a transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure to a flexible substrate.

[0052] Figure 14 shows a front view of a cable fixed by a cable holder and coupled to a connector, a cross-sectional view along the AB line, and the dimensions of the connector.

[0053] Fig. 15 shows a cross-sectional view of a connection structure of a transparent antenna module having a housing and a metal film on the inner surface of the housing according to the present disclosure.

[0054] FIG. 16 shows a cross-sectional view of one end and the other end of a flexible substrate in a transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure, respectively, connected to a laminated structure and a cable in an antenna region.

[0055] Figure 17 shows antennas placed on the front windshield of a vehicle.

[0056] FIGS. 18a and 18b illustrate a transparent antenna module including the first to fourth antennas of FIG. 17.

[0057] FIG. 19 illustrates a first cable structure connected to a metal pad of a flexible substrate without a connector and a second cable structure connected to a metal pad of a flexible substrate through a connector in a transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure.

[0058] Figure 20 compares the signal performance of the first cable structure and the second cable structure of Figure 19.

[0059] Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed in this specification will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Regardless of the drawing numbers, identical or similar components will be given the same reference numbers and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted. The suffixes "module" and "part" used for components in the following description are assigned or used interchangeably only for the convenience of writing the specification, and do not in themselves have distinct meanings or roles. In addition, when describing the embodiments disclosed in this specification, if it is determined that a specific description of a related known technology may obscure the gist of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the attached drawings are only intended to facilitate easy understanding of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, and the technical ideas disclosed in this specification are not limited by the attached drawings, and should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and technical scope of this specification.

[0060] Terms that include ordinal numbers, such as first, second, etc., may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by these terms. These terms are used solely to distinguish one component from another.

[0061] When a component is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that it may be directly connected or connected to that other component, but that there may be other components intervening. Conversely, when a component is referred to as being "directly connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components intervening.

[0062] Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0063] In this application, terms such as “include” or “have” are intended to specify the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part or combination thereof described in the specification, but should be understood not to exclude in advance the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof.

[0064] Below, a transparent antenna module according to the present specification and a method for manufacturing the same are described in detail. In this regard, FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present specification.

[0065] Referring to FIG. 1, a vehicle (1) may be equipped with at least one communication antenna. The vehicle (1) may transmit and / or receive signals of various frequency bands using the communication antenna. The vehicle (1) may perform communication such as V2V (Vehicle-to-Vehicle), V2I (Vehicle to Infrastructure), V2P (Vehicle-to-Pedestrian), and V2N (vehicle-to-network).

[0066] The above antenna may be composed of a substrate made of a material such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and an antenna pattern formed on the substrate. For example, the antenna may be a transparent antenna.

[0067] The above antenna may be disposed on the dielectric of the vehicle (1). The above antenna may be disposed on the glass of the vehicle (1). The above antenna may be coupled or attached to a front glass (101), door glass (102, 103), quarter glass (104), rear windshield (not shown), side mirror (not shown), sunroof (105), or lamp glass (106). For example, the above antenna may be a transparent antenna.

[0068] FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present specification. Referring 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), a driving 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 include additional configurations in addition to the above configurations, or may omit some of the above configurations.

[0069] The object detection device (410) may be a device for detecting an object located outside the vehicle (1). For example, the 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).

[0070] 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 a transmitting antenna, a receiving antenna, an RF (Radio Frequency) circuit or an RF element capable of implementing various communication protocols for performing communication. For example, the communication device (420) may include a processor (421), a short-range communication unit (422), a location information unit (423), a V2X communication unit (424), an optical communication unit (425), a broadcast transceiver unit (426), and / or an ITS communication unit (427).

[0071] The user interface device (431) may be a device for interaction between the vehicle (1) and a user. The vehicle (1) may implement a UI (User Interface) or UX (User Experience) through the user interface device (431).

[0072] The driving control device (432) may be a device that receives user input for driving. The vehicle driving device (433) may be a device that electrically controls the operation of various devices within the vehicle (1). The driving 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 status of the vehicle (1).

[0073] The interface unit (437) can serve as a passageway for various types of external devices connected to the vehicle (1). The memory (438) can store basic data for the units of the vehicle (1), control data for controlling the operation of the units, input / output data, etc. The power supply unit (439) can supply power required for the operation of each component. The control unit (440) can control the overall operation of each unit within the vehicle (1). The control unit (440) can be implemented as an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) and / or a TCU (Telematics Control Unit).

[0074] Meanwhile, the vehicle glass, incorporating the transparent antenna module according to the present specification, can be combined with the vehicle frame. In this regard, Fig. 3 illustrates a perspective view of vehicle glass that can be combined or attached to the vehicle frame. Fig. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the glass of Fig. 3 combined with the vehicle frame.

[0075] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the glass (10, 10') can be coupled or attached to the frame (9) of the vehicle and can cover an opening (9h) of the frame (9). For example, the glass (10, 10') can be glass of the vehicle (1), such as a front glass (101), a door glass (102, 103), a quarter glass (104), a rear windshield, a side mirror, a sunroof (105), or a lamp glass (106) (see FIG. 1).

[0076] The groove (9g) of the frame (9) may extend along the edge of the glass (10, 10') and define the boundary of the opening (9h). For example, the frame (9) may include a metal material, and a sealant (7, sealant) may be filled between the groove (9g) and the glass (10, 10'). The groove (9g) may be formed to have a step with respect to the inner boundary of the frame (9). A glass (10) having an opaque area (12) formed therein may be placed in the groove (9g) formed to have a step with respect to the inner end of the frame (9). As the glass (10) is placed in the groove (9g), the step of the groove (9g) may be regarded as non-existent from the outside of the vehicle.

[0077] The antenna (20) may be located on one surface of the glass (10) or inside the glass (10). The antenna (20) may be transparent. The antenna (20) may be flexible.

[0078] A connection module including a connector (10c) can be arranged between an edge of a glass (10, 10') and an antenna (20), and can be located on one surface of the glass (10, 10'). The connector (10c) of the connection module can be electrically connected to the antenna (20) through a substrate (30). An inner cover (8) can be opposite the glass (10) with respect to a frame (9) and can cover the connection module. The inner cover (8) can be referred to as an interior cover (8). The connection module can be referred to as a connector device, a Parkra jack portion, or a connector assembly.

[0079] Meanwhile, a vehicle antenna assembly implementing a transparent antenna module according to the present specification can be placed in transparent and opaque areas of a vehicle's glass. In this regard, FIG. 5 illustrates an antenna assembly and connector structure placed in the transparent and opaque areas of a vehicle's glass.

[0080] Referring to FIG. 5, the glass (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 (10), and the opaque region (12) may be adjacent to one edge of the glass (10). The transparent region (11) and the opaque region (12) may be formed with the same width (W10), and the height (H11) of the transparent region (11) may be greater than the height (H12) of the opaque region (12).

[0081] The antenna (20) may be positioned on the transparent area (11) adjacent to the boundary between the transparent area (11) and the opaque area (12). A connection module including a 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 the housing lower plate (111). The housing lower plate (111) may be fastened to the housing upper plate (112) to form a housing (110). The connector (10c) may be accommodated inside the housing (110). The housing (110) in which the connector (10c) is accommodated may be placed in the opaque area (12). Meanwhile, at least a part of the connection module may be positioned in the transparent area (11).

[0082] Hereinafter, a high-durability transparent antenna module for a vehicle according to the present disclosure will be described. In this regard, Fig. 6 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a transparent antenna module for a vehicle attached to a glass panel of a vehicle. Fig. 7 illustrates the structures of a transparent substrate and a flexible substrate arranged in the transparent and opaque areas of the glass panel of Fig. 6, and an enlarged view of a flexible substrate to which a cable is attached.

[0083] The structure of a transparent antenna module for a vehicle according to the present disclosure is as illustrated in FIG. 6. The antenna region (1100) of the antenna module (1000) may be placed in a transparent region (11) of a glass panel (10). A flexible substrate (1200) forming a feeding region of the antenna module (1000) may be placed in an opaque region (12) of the glass panel (10). A feeding line (FL) of the flexible substrate (1200) may be placed in a black mask region, which is an opaque region (12) of the glass panel (10), so as not to be visible from the outside.

[0084] The feed line (FL) of the flexible substrate (1200) can be connected to a cable (100c) of a predetermined length. The cable (100c) can be formed as a coaxial cable in which the inner conductor of the signal line and the outer conductor, which is the ground line, are formed on the same axis. The length of the cable (100c) can be formed to be 3 mm to 15 mm, but is not limited thereto and can be changed according to the application. The cable (100c) connected to the feed line (FL) is connected to the TCU (300) to transmit and receive signals of a specific frequency band.

[0085] Referring to FIG. 6, an on-glass type transparent antenna is attached to the surface of a vehicle's glass panel (10) using an OCA (Optically Clear Adhesive). However, the vehicle transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure is not limited to the on-glass type. Accordingly, the transparent antenna module may be formed as an in-glass type in which a metal pattern of an antenna element is arranged between first glass and second glass.

[0086] There are two connection points for electrical connection of the transparent antenna module. The first connection point of the transparent antenna module is the connection point between the feed line (FL) and the cable (100c), and the cable (100c) can be connected to the feed line (FL) through soldering. Connection through soldering can cause a problem of easy detachment due to external impact. Therefore, the problem of easy detachment due to external impact can occur, and this can easily cause electrical disconnection of the feed line (FL). Therefore, a soldering process is required for connection between the feed line (FL) and the cable (100c).

[0087] The second connection point of the transparent antenna module is the connection between the metal pad, which is the end of the antenna pattern, and the feed line (FL). The connection between the metal pad, which is the end of the antenna pattern, and the feed line (FL) can be formed using an anisotropic conductive film (ACF) bonding. If the first and second connection points of the transparent antenna module do not have a separate fixing structure, they may be damaged by vibration or impact, and the antenna performance may be affected during operation.

[0088] The first connection point of the transparent antenna module for a vehicle according to the present disclosure is as illustrated in FIG. 7. Referring to FIG. 7, a transparent antenna may be placed in an antenna area (1100) of a transparent antenna module (1000). A first antenna (1110) and a second antenna (1120) may be placed in the antenna area (1100). An end of the first antenna (1110) may be connected to a flexible substrate (1200). An end of the second antenna (1120) may be connected to a second flexible substrate (1200b).

[0089] A 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) connected to a cable (100c) may be formed on the first portion (P1) of the flexible substrate (1200). A feed 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 of the antenna region (1100). The feed line (FL) of the second portion (P2) of the flexible substrate (1200) may be formed to extend to the third portion (P3). The feed line (FL) of the third portion (P3) of the flexible substrate (1200) may have ground portions (GP1, GP2) formed on one side and the other side thereof, which are spaced apart from the feed line (FL). The feed line (FL) of the third part (P3) of the flexible substrate (1200) can be implemented as a CPW (Co-Planar Waveguide) structure in which ground portions (GP1, GP2) are formed on one side and the other side.

[0090] In the planar structure of the transparent antenna module, the feed line (FL) is connected to the cable (100c), and the cable (100c) is ultimately connected to the TCU to transmit and receive signals. The process of connecting the film-shaped flexible substrate (1200) on which the feed line (FL) is arranged and the rigid cable (100c) is difficult. The feed line (FL) and the cable (100c) can be connected through a soldering process such as soldering. Since the feed line (FL) and the cable (100c) have different electrical and thermal characteristics, problems may occur during the connection process. In addition, the soldering process such as soldering may cause problems due to errors or defects caused by small mistakes.

[0091] In the transparent antenna module for vehicles according to the present disclosure, the solderable area of ​​the feed line (FL) is limited. Furthermore, the antenna is placed near the solderable area, making it heat-sensitive, making the transparent antenna process difficult. Therefore, a method is needed to reduce issues such as durability, bonding strength, and hardness during soldering processes.

[0092] The purpose of this specification is to propose a modular structure and protective cover structure for a film-type transparent antenna for automotive use that is easy to install, highly durable, and applicable to automotive environments. The purpose of this specification is to simplify the method of connecting the transparent antenna to the cable, thereby reducing errors and defects that may occur during the process. The purpose of this specification is to reduce errors and defects that may occur during the process by treating the gap between the cable and the flat feeder.

[0093] The purpose of this specification is to protect the ACF bonding part, which is the feed line and cable connection part, using a housing to prevent the signal performance of a transparent antenna from being reduced. The purpose of this specification is to prevent signal interference from the surrounding environment by coating a protective cover such as a housing with a metal film, thereby preventing the signal performance of the antenna from being reduced. The purpose of this specification is to expand the application of a high-durability vehicle transparent antenna module to 5G communication vehicles, autonomous vehicles, etc.

[0094] In this regard, various tests for mechanical, chemical, and vehicle environments can be conducted to verify the reliability of the transparent antenna module for vehicles according to the present specification. Therefore, in the present disclosure, it is necessary to optimize the structure of the connection terminal of the cable (100c) to facilitate the connection process with the feed line and to ensure a more secure bond. As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the connection portion between the feed line (FL) and the cable (100c) and the metal pad of the antenna pattern and the feed line connection portion can all be covered with a housing (1050) to enhance stability.

[0095] The transparent antenna module for vehicles according to the present disclosure can ensure that the signal performance of the antenna does not change even after testing under various reliability test conditions. In this regard, the reliability test conditions may include solar radiation durability, thermal shock, temperature / humidity testing, vibration durability, water resistance reliability, ACF bonding strength, and hardness testing. In addition, the reliability test conditions may include abrasion resistance testing, chemical resistance testing, salt spray testing, and destructive testing. Therefore, the transparent antenna assembly structure design according to the present disclosure can be expected to simplify the manufacturing process of the transparent antenna, reduce the occurrence of defects, and enhance the reliability and signal performance of the antenna in a vehicle environment.

[0096] Meanwhile, the transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure may be formed with an on-glass structure in which the antenna is formed on a glass panel or an in-glass structure in which the antenna is formed between glass panels. In this regard, FIG. 8 shows a combination diagram, an exploded diagram, and a cross-sectional view of the housing of the transparent antenna module of the on-glass structure of FIG. 6, arranged on a glass panel. Meanwhile, FIG. 9 shows a combination diagram, an exploded diagram, and a cross-sectional view of the housing of the transparent antenna module of the in-glass structure, arranged on a glass panel.

[0097] FIG. 8(a) shows a coupling diagram in which the housing (1050) of the transparent antenna module of the on-glass structure of FIG. 6 is placed in the opaque area (12) of the glass panel (10). The lower area of ​​the housing (1050) may be formed with a circular cross-section corresponding to the shape of the cable (100c).

[0098] Figure 8(b) shows an exploded view of a housing (1050) being bonded to a flexible substrate (1200) and an opaque region (12) of a glass panel (10) via an adhesive layer (1070). One end of a cable (100c) can be connected to a metal pad (MP) of the flexible substrate (1200).

[0099] FIG. 8(c) shows a cross-sectional view of a housing (1050) disposed in an opaque area (12) of a glass panel (10). The lower area of ​​the housing (1050) may be formed into a circular shape with a first diameter (D1) in cross-section to correspond to the shape of the cable (100c). The lower portion of the housing (1050) may be formed into a circular shape with a second diameter (D2) in cross-section to secure the cable (100c) fixed by the cable holder. The first diameter (D1) of the housing (1050) may be formed to be larger than the second diameter (D2). The first diameter (D1) of the housing (1050) may be formed to be larger than a predetermined size so as not to come into contact with one end of the cable (100c) soldered to the feed line. The second diameter (D2) of the lower part of the housing (1050) may be formed to be equal to the diameter of the cable (100c) or to be larger by a predetermined range than the diameter of the cable (100c) in consideration of the clearance.

[0100] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 8, a transparent antenna module having an on-glass structure with an antenna pattern attached to the surface of a vehicle's glass panel (10) may be placed. The transparent antenna module having an on-glass structure has a structure in which only the antenna pad portion is attached with an adhesive. Accordingly, the flexible substrate (1200) and the cable (100c) are separated from the surface of the glass panel, and thus additional fixing work is required to fix the flexible substrate (1200) and the cable (100c).

[0101] The housing (1050) according to the present disclosure may be formed to be wider in the horizontal axis direction than the flexible substrate (1200). An adhesive layer (1070) may be applied to the bottom surface of the housing (1050) so as to be designed to adhere and fix the flexible substrate (1200) to the glass panel (10). Therefore, a separate operation for fixing the flexible substrate (1200) to the glass panel (10) becomes unnecessary. In addition, the housing (1050) is designed to fix the cable (100c) while covering the connection portion of the cable (100c) soldered to the feed line of the flexible substrate (1200). Therefore, stress that may be applied to the soldering portion of one end of the cable (100c) due to bending of the cable (100c), etc., can be minimized.

[0102] By applying the housing (1050) according to the present disclosure, the robustness of the connecting parts can be increased, thereby preventing damage due to vehicle vibration or impact. Furthermore, the connection strength is sufficiently maintained even when a worker moves the glass panel (10) to which the antenna is attached by holding only the cable (100c). Furthermore, the flexible substrate (1200) and cable (100c) of the transparent antenna module, which may be exposed to the view of internal passengers, can be completely covered by the housing (1050).

[0103] Figure 9(a) shows a coupling diagram in which a housing (1050) of a transparent antenna module having an in-glass structure is placed in an opaque area (12) of a glass panel (10). One side area of ​​the housing (1050) may be formed into a circular cross-section corresponding to the shape of the cable (100c).

[0104] FIG. 9(b) shows an exploded view of a housing (1050) being coupled to a flexible substrate (1200) and an opaque region (12) of a glass panel (10) via an adhesive layer (1070). The glass panel (10) may be formed as a double-glass structure including a first glass (10a) and a second glass (10b). The flexible substrate (1200) may include a first region (R1) disposed between the first glass (10a) and the second glass (10b) of the glass panel (10), a second region (R2) disposed on a side of the first glass (10a), and a third region (R3) disposed on a front surface of the first glass (10a). One end of a cable (100c) may be connected to a metal pad (MP) formed on the third region (R3) of the flexible substrate (1200).

[0105] FIG. 9(c) shows a cross-sectional view in which a housing (1050) is placed in an opaque area (12) of a glass panel (10). A first region (R1) of a flexible substrate (1200) can be attached to a first glass (10a) and a second glass (10b). A first region (R1) of a flexible substrate (1200) can be attached to a first glass (10a) and a second glass (10b) by ACF bonding. A third region (R3) of a flexible substrate (1200) can be attached to a first glass (10a) through an adhesive layer (1070). A third region (R3) of a flexible substrate (1200) can be attached to a housing (1050) through an adhesive layer (1070).

[0106] One side area of ​​the housing (1050) may be formed into a circular cross-section with a first diameter corresponding to the shape of the cable (100c). One end of the housing (1050) may be formed into a circular cross-section with a second diameter so that the cable (100c) fixed by the cable holder is fixed. The first diameter of the housing (1050) may be formed to be larger than the second diameter. The first diameter of the housing (1050) may be formed to be larger than a predetermined size so as not to come into contact with the feed line and one end of the soldered cable (100c). The second diameter of one end of the housing (1050) may be formed to be the same as the diameter of the cable (100c) or to be larger than the diameter of the cable (100c) by a predetermined range in consideration of clearance.

[0107] Referring to FIG. 9, a transparent antenna module having an in-glass structure, in which a transparent antenna is placed between glass panels (10) of a double-glass structure, can be implemented. The in-glass structure has no risk of short circuits because the antenna pattern and the ACF bonding portion are embedded between the double-laminated glass, but the soldering portion of the feed line and cable (100c) are exposed to the outside. Therefore, the in-glass structure, like the on-glass structure, is a structure that may be vulnerable to shock or vibration.

[0108] A portion of the flexible substrate (1200) formed in a structure folded toward the first glass (10a) and the cable (100c) are separated from the glass panel (10) like an on-glass structure, so additional fixing work of the flexible substrate (1200) and the cable (100c) is required for fixation.

[0109] The structure of the housing (1050) with an in-glass structure can be formed to be wider in the horizontal axis direction than the flexible substrate (1200), like the housing with an on-glass structure. An adhesive layer (1070) can be applied to the bottom surface of the housing (1050) so that the flexible substrate (1200) is fixed in close contact with the glass panel (10). Therefore, a separate operation of fixing the flexible substrate (1200) to the glass panel (10) is not required. In addition, the housing (1050) is designed to fix the cable (100c) while covering the connection portion of the cable (100c) soldered to the feed line of the flexible substrate (1200). Therefore, stress that may be applied to the soldering portion of one end of the cable (100c) due to bending of the cable (100c), etc., can be minimized.

[0110] By applying the housing (1050) according to the present disclosure, the robustness of the connecting parts can be increased, thereby preventing damage due to vehicle vibration or impact. Furthermore, the connection strength is sufficiently maintained even when a worker moves the glass panel (10) to which the antenna is attached by holding only the cable (100c). Furthermore, the flexible substrate (1200) and cable (100c) of the transparent antenna module, which may be exposed to the view of internal passengers, can be completely covered by the housing (1050).

[0111] Referring to FIGS. 1, 6, and 8, the flexible substrate (1200) and the cable (100c) may be disposed in an opaque area of ​​the upper portion of the windshield (101). The cable (100c) may be disposed in an axial direction corresponding to the vertical axis direction of the opaque area of ​​the upper portion of the windshield (101). The metal electrode layer of the antenna region (1100) may be disposed on the windshield (101). The metal electrode layer of the antenna region (1100) may be disposed on the inner side of the windshield (101) in the vehicle interior direction or on the outer side in the exterior direction. The cable (100c) may be disposed in the Y-axis direction, which is the vertical axis direction of the opaque area (12) of the glass panel (10).

[0112] Referring to FIGS. 1, 6, 7, and 9, a flexible substrate (1200) and a cable (100c) may be opaquely arranged on the upper portion of the windshield (101) of a vehicle. The flexible substrate (1200) may be formed to include a first region (R1), a second region (R2), and a third region (R3). The first region (R1) of the flexible substrate (1200) may be arranged between the first glass (10a) and the second glass (10b) of the glass panel (10). The second region (R2) of the flexible substrate (1200) may be arranged on the side of the first glass (10a). The third region (R3) of the flexible substrate (1200) may be arranged on the front surface of the first glass (10a). The metal electrode layer of the antenna region (1100) may be arranged between the first glass (10a) and the second glass (10b).

[0113] The cable (100c) connected to the third region (R3) of the flexible substrate (1200) can be arranged in the other axis direction corresponding to the horizontal axis direction of the opaque region of the upper part of the front glass (101). The cable (100c) connected to the third region (R3) of the flexible substrate (1200) can be arranged in the X-axis direction, which is the horizontal axis direction of the opaque region (12) of the glass panel (10).

[0114] Meanwhile, with regard to improving antenna reliability and signal performance in a vehicle environment, the cable structures of a transparent antenna module for a vehicle according to the present disclosure are described. In this regard, FIGS. 10 to 12 illustrate the cable structures of a transparent antenna module for a vehicle according to the present disclosure.

[0115] Fig. 10(a) shows a cable (100c) including a signal line (SL), a dielectric portion (DL), a first conductor portion (CP1), a ground line (GL), and a second conductor portion (CP2). The cable (100c) can be implemented as a coaxial cable in which the center of the signal line (SL) and the center of the ground line (GL) are arranged coaxially. Fig. 10(b) shows a cross-sectional view of the cable (100c) implemented as a coaxial cable. Fig. 10(b) shows a cross-sectional view along line AA' of the cable (100c) of Fig. 10(a).

[0116] Fig. 11 (a) shows a cable (100c) including a signal line (SL), a dielectric portion (DL), a first conductor portion (CP1), a ground line (GL), and a second conductor portion (CP2). The cable (100c) can be implemented as a body-shaped cable formed with a square or polygonal connector structure at a connection portion connected to a flexible substrate. Fig. 11 (b) shows a cross-sectional view of the cable (100c) implemented as a body-shaped cable. Fig. 11 (b) shows a cross-sectional view along line AA' of the cable (100c) of Fig. 11 (a).

[0117] Fig. 12 (a) shows a cable (100c) including a signal line (SL), a dielectric portion (DL), a first conductor portion (CP1), a ground line (GL), and a second conductor portion (CP2). The cable (100c) may be implemented as a wing-shaped cable in which a metal pad-shaped connector (10c) is formed at a connection portion connected to a flexible substrate. The surface of the connector (10c) may be coated with a material such as lead (Pb) for soldering. Fig. 12 (b) shows a cross-sectional view of a cable (100c) implemented as a formed wing-shaped cable. Fig. 12 (b) shows a cross-sectional view along line AA' of the cable (100c) of Fig. 12 (a).

[0118] Referring to FIGS. 10 to 12, structures for a coaxial cable structure and a cable having a terminal formed therein to reduce problems caused by soldering according to the present disclosure are compared. In the present disclosure, a terminal structure may be attached to the cable (100c) to ensure a secure connection between the feed line (FL) and the cable (100c) and to simplify the process.

[0119] A cable (100c) having a terminal structure attached according to the present disclosure can be implemented as a body-shaped cable as shown in FIG. 11 and a wing-shaped cable as shown in FIG. 12. The cable (100c) having a terminal structure attached can be composed of a cable holder (10h) and a connector (10c). The entire structure in which the cable (100c) is mounted on the connector (10c) can be coated with a lead material.

[0120] The body-type cable of FIG. 11 can solve the issue of the cable shaking in a vehicle vibration environment by improving the mechanical strength of the cable holder (10h) of a predetermined length or longer and the connector (10c) surrounding the ground. In the wing-type cable of FIG. 12, the connector (10c) is positioned only on the bottom surface of the ground, so the mechanical strength is somewhat lower than that of the body-type cable. However, in the wing-type cable, the connector (10c) has a wider soldering area, so the soldering process can be easier than that of FIG. 10a.

[0121] Meanwhile, FIG. 13 illustrates processes for attaching a cable of a transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure to a flexible substrate. Referring to FIG. 13(a), a ground line (GL) of a cable (100c) can be coupled with a connector (10c). A signal line (SL) of the cable (100c) can be formed to protrude from an end of the ground line (GL). The cable (100c) coupled with the connector (10c) can be connected to a metal pad (MP) of a first portion of a flexible substrate (1200) and a soldering pad of a feed line (FL) of a second portion via a soldering tip (ST).

[0122] Referring to Fig. 13(b), a soldering tip (ST) can be brought into contact with a metal pad (MP) of a first portion of a flexible substrate (1200). Accordingly, the metal pad (MP) of the first portion of the flexible substrate (1200) can be configured to be preheated. Referring to Fig. 13(c), a connector (10c) coupled with a cable (100c) can be connected to the metal pad (MP) of the first portion of the flexible substrate (1200) through soldering.

[0123] Referring to Fig. 13(d), the signal line (SL) of the cable (100c) can be connected to the feed line (FL) by soldering the soldering pad of the feed line (FL) of the second part of the flexible substrate (1200) and the soldering tip (ST). Referring to Fig. 13(e), the ground line (GL) and the signal line (SL) of the cable (100c) can undergo a cooling process in a structure in which they are connected to the metal pad (MP) of the first part of the flexible substrate (1200) and the feed line (FL) of the second part.

[0124] When a cable (100c) coupled with a connector (10c) according to the present disclosure is applied, the terminals of the cable (100c) are coated with lead. Accordingly, the process of applying lead to the pads of the flexible substrate between the processes of FIG. 13(b) and FIG. 13(c) becomes unnecessary. In this regard, the process of soldering the cable to the transparent antenna, including the process of applying lead to the pads of the flexible substrate, takes approximately 7 to 8 minutes.

[0125] When the cable (100c) proposed in the present disclosure is applied, the process of applying lead to the pads of the flexible substrate (1200) is omitted, thereby simplifying the process and shortening the soldering time by about 1 minute to about 6 to 7 minutes. In this regard, the process of attaching the cable to the transparent antenna module in FIG. 11 may have a time difference due to time differences depending on the operator. However, since the process of applying lead to the pads of the flexible substrate (1200) is omitted, the soldering process time can be shortened due to the simplification of the entire process.

[0126] Meanwhile, the structure of a cable having a terminal structure of a transparent antenna module for a vehicle according to the present disclosure is described in detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. 14 shows a front view of a cable fixed by a cable holder coupled with a connector, a cross-sectional view along line AB, and dimensions of the connector. Fig. 14(a) shows a front view of a cable (100c) fixed by a cable holder (10h) coupled with a connector (10c). Fig. 14(b) shows a cross-sectional view along line AB of a cable (100c) coupled with a connector (10c). Fig. 14(c) shows dimensions of the connector (10c).

[0127] Referring to FIG. 14, the cable holder (10h) can partially secure the cable (100c) to reduce the level of shaking of the cable (100c) in a vehicle vibration environment when attaching the transparent antenna to an actual vehicle. The connector (10c) can increase the soldering range, such as soldering, to improve the soldering process, such as soldering, and can increase the area bonded to the power line, thereby improving soldering stability.

[0128] The first width (W1) of the connector (10c) in the other axial direction (horizontal direction) is formed to be between 1.5 and 3 times the diameter of the cable (100c), which is advantageous when connected to a power line. If the first width (W1) of the connector (10c) is less than 1.5 times, the convenience of the soldering process by terminal processing may be reduced. If the first width (W1) of the connector (10c) is greater than 3 times, signal interference may occur, which may reduce the performance of the antenna.

[0129] The first length (L1) of the connector (10c) in the uniaxial direction (vertical direction) is formed to be between 0.25 and 1.5 times the diameter of the cable (100c), which is advantageous when connected to a power line. If the first length (L1) of the connector (10c) is less than 0.25 times, damage may occur even with a weak mechanical force during handling during the process. If the first length (L1) of the connector (10c) is greater than 1.5 times, signal interference may occur, which may reduce the performance of the antenna.

[0130] The connector (10c) is formed with a thickness between 100 um and 400 um, which is advantageous in soldering processes such as soldering. If the connector (10c) is less than 100 um in thickness, bending or damage may occur even with weak mechanical force during handling during the process. If the connector (10c) is greater than 400 um in thickness, signal attenuation of high-frequency signals may increase due to signal loss caused by the thickness of the connector (10c).

[0131] As described above, the surface of the connector (10c) may be coated with a material such as lead (Pb). The surface of the connector (10c) can be connected to the feed line (FL) only by heat treatment, thereby improving the processability. The thickness of the lead coated on the connector (10c) may be formed to a value between 5 μm and 50 μm, which may be advantageous during the soldering process. If the thickness of the material coated on the connector (10c) is less than 5 μm, the connector may not be sufficiently connected to the feed line during the preliminary bonding process. On the other hand, if the thickness of the material coated on the connector (10c) is thicker than 50 μm, excessive lead may be present at the bonding site, which may cause problems such as cold soldering, heat damage, damage to adjacent areas, and difficulty in bonding the housing.

[0132] Meanwhile, the connection structure of the transparent antenna module for vehicles according to the present disclosure is such that a metal film is formed on the housing and the inner surface of the housing to surround a cable to which a terminal structure is attached, thereby improving mechanical strength and antenna performance. In this regard,

[0133] Referring to FIG. 15, the housing (1050) and metal film (1060) of the connection structure of the transparent antenna module will be described. The metal film (1060) may be formed on the inner surface of the housing (1050). The metal film (1060) may be formed through various methods such as spray coating, dipping, screening, and sol-gel coating. The metal used for the metal film (1060) is copper or aluminum, which are metals with high electrical conductivity and easy processing. In some cases, various metals such as nickel, iron, silver, and cobalt alloys may be used. In order to maximize shielding performance, the coating thickness and material selection are important factors. Therefore, an appropriate material and forming method of the metal film (1060) may be selected by considering the coating thickness, uniformity, mechanical properties, cost, etc. depending on the requirements.

[0134] The thickness of the metal of the metal film (1060) coated on the housing (1050) may be formed in a range of 0.1 mm to 2 mm. If the thickness of the metal of the metal film (1060) is less than 0.1 mm, problems such as reduced shielding performance, susceptibility to wear and corrosion, and damage during the process due to low mechanical strength may occur. On the other hand, if the thickness of the metal of the metal film (1060) is thicker than 2 mm, problems such as increased weight and cost, and attenuation of electromagnetic performance of high-frequency signals may occur.

[0135] Referring to FIGS. 6 to 15, a transparent antenna module (1000) for a vehicle according to the present disclosure will be described. The transparent antenna module (1000) may be configured to include a flexible substrate (1200), a cable (100c), and a connector (10c). The transparent antenna module (1000) may be configured to further include a housing (1050). The transparent antenna module (1000) may further include a metal film (1060) formed on an inner surface of the housing (1050). The transparent antenna module (1000) may further include an adhesive layer (1070) that secures the housing (1050) to the flexible substrate (1200).

[0136] A flexible substrate (1200) may be placed on an opaque area (11) of a glass panel (10). A metal pad (MP) may be placed on a first portion (P1) of the flexible substrate (1200). A feed line (FL) may be placed on a second portion (P2) of the flexible substrate (1200) spaced apart from the first portion (P1) in a uniaxial direction.

[0137] The cable (100c) may include a signal line (SL), a first conductor portion (CP1) formed to surround the signal line (SL), a dielectric portion (DP) formed to surround the first conductor portion (CP1), and a ground line (GL) formed to surround the dielectric portion (DP). The cable (100c) may further include a second conductor portion (CP2) formed to surround the ground line (GL). In this regard, a first cross-section of a first point of the cable (100c) connected to the feed line (FL) may include the signal line (SL), the first conductor portion (CP1), the dielectric portion (DP), and the ground line (GL).

[0138] The second cross-section of the second point of the cable (100c) arranged in the opaque area of ​​the glass panel (10) on the outside of the flexible substrate (1200) may include a signal line (SL), a first conductor portion (CP1), a dielectric portion (DP), a second conductor portion (CP2), and a ground line (GL).

[0139] The connector (10c) may be formed by coating with a metal material that melts with heat. The connector (10c) may be coupled to the lower end of the ground line (GL) of the cable (100c). The connector (10c) may be formed to have a 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 a metal pad (MP) arranged on a first portion (P1) of a flexible substrate (1200) may be electrically connected by the connector (10c). Accordingly, the ground structure of the cable (100c) and the ground structure of the flexible substrate (1200) may be coupled with a certain mechanical strength or higher. The signal line (SL) of one end of the cable (100c) and the feed line (FL) arranged on a second portion (P2) of the flexible substrate (1200) may be connected. Accordingly, the signal line structure of the cable (100c) and the signal line structure of the flexible substrate (1200) can be combined with a certain mechanical strength or higher.

[0140] A first portion (P1) of a flexible substrate (1200) on which a connector (10c) is arranged may be formed with a second length (L2) in a uniaxial direction. A first portion (P1) of a flexible substrate (1200) on which a connector (10c) is arranged may be formed with a second width (W2). A first portion (P1) of a flexible substrate (1200) may be formed as a dielectric region in which a metal pattern of a ground region is removed by the second width (W2). A second length (L2) of a first portion (P1) of a flexible substrate (1200) may be formed to be longer than a first length (L1) of a connector (10c). A second width (W2) of a first portion (P1) of a flexible substrate (1200) may be formed to be wider than a first width (W1) of a connector (10c).

[0141] A ground portion (GP1, GP2) spaced apart from the feed line (FL) may be formed on one side and the other side of the feed line (FL) of the second portion (P2) of the flexible substrate (1200). The feed line (FL) and the ground portion (GP1, GP2) of the first portion (P2) of the flexible substrate (1200) may form a 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). A ground region may be formed on the second surface of the flexible substrate (1200). The second surface of the flexible substrate (1200) may be attached to an opaque region (12) of a glass panel (10).

[0142] A housing (1050) may be formed so that a cable (100c) is accommodated in an internal area. The housing (1050) may include an upper structure (UPS), a first lower support (LPS1), a second lower support (LPS2), a first side connection (SCP1), and a second side connection (SCP2). One end and the other end of the upper structure (UPS) may be connected to the first side connection (SCP1) and the second side connection (SCP2). A lower end of the first side connection (SCP1) may be connected to the first lower support (LPS1). A lower end of the second side connection (SCP2) may be connected to the second lower support (LPS2).

[0143] The housing (1050) may be formed to have a third length (L3) or more to cover the first portion (P1) and the second portion (P2) of the flexible substrate (1020) in one axial direction. The housing (1050) may be formed to have a fourth length (L4) or less to be placed in the opaque area (12) of the glass panel (10). The third width (W3) of the housing (1050) in the other axial direction may be formed to be larger than the second width (W2) of the first portion (P1) of the flexible substrate (1200).

[0144] The metal film (1060) may be formed on the inner surface of the housing (1050). The metal film (1060) may be integrally formed on the inner surface of the upper structure (UPS) of the housing (1050), the inner surface of the first side connecting portion (SCP1), the inner surface of the second side connecting portion (SCP2), the inner surface of the first lower support portion (LPS1), and the inner surface of the second lower support portion (LPS2).

[0145] The thickness of the metal film (1060) may be formed to be 0.1 mm or more for shielding performance. The thickness of the metal film (1060) may be formed to be 2.0 mm or less so that the signal loss of the signal line (SL) of the cable (100c) and the feed line (FL) of the flexible substrate (1200) is below a certain level.

[0146] The first axial length (L1) of the connector (10c) may be formed to be at least 0.25 times the diameter of the cable (100c) to prevent damage during soldering and fixation. The first length (L1) of the connector (10c) may be formed to be at most 1.5 times the diameter of the cable (100c) to ensure that interference between signals of the signal line (SL) and the feed line (FL) is below a certain level.

[0147] The first width (W1) of the connector (10c) in the other axial direction may be formed to be at least 1.5 times the diameter of the cable (100c) for fixation during soldering. The first width (W1) of the connector (10c) in the other axial direction may be formed to be at most 3 times the diameter of the cable (100c) so that the signal loss of the signal line (SL) and the feed line (FL) remains below a certain level.

[0148] The thickness of the connector (10c) may be formed to be 100 um or more to prevent bending and damage during the process. The thickness of the connector (10c) may be formed to be 400 um or less to ensure that the signal loss of the signal line (SL) and the feed line (FL) remains below a certain level.

[0149] The thickness of the metal material coated on the connector (10c) may be formed to be 5 μm or more for connection with the power line. The thickness of the metal material coated on the connector (10c) may be formed to be 50 μm or less for prevention of cold soldering and electrical isolation from the metal film (1060) on the inner surface of the housing (1050).

[0150] One end of the flexible substrate (1200) may be placed at the boundary of the opaque region (12) of the glass panel (10). The cable holder (10h) may be spaced apart from the other end of the flexible substrate (1200) at a predetermined interval. The cable holder (10h) may be formed to surround the cable (100c) and configured to secure the cable (100c). The cable holder (10h) may be formed to surround the second conductor portion (CP2) of the cable (100c) and configured to secure the cable (100c) to the opaque region (12) of the glass panel (10).

[0151] Meanwhile, the housing (1050) formed to accommodate the cable (100c) in its internal region may have a rectangular or circular cross-section. In this regard, referring to FIGS. 6 and 8(c), the first cross-section of the lower region of the housing (1050) may be formed in a circular shape with a first diameter (D1). The second cross-section of the lower region of the housing (1050) may be formed in a circular shape with a second diameter (D2).

[0152] Referring to FIGS. 6 to 15, the lower region of the housing (1050) may be formed into a circular cross-section with a first diameter (D1) to correspond to the shape of the cable (100c). The lower portion of the housing (1050) may be formed into a circular cross-section with a second diameter (D2) so that the cable (100c) fixed by the cable holder (10h) may be fixed. The second diameter (D2) of the second cross-section of the circular shape of the lower portion of the housing (1050) may be formed to be smaller than the first diameter (D1) of the first cross-section of the lower region of the housing (1050).

[0153] An adhesive layer (1070) may be disposed between the metal film (1060) and the ground portions (GP1, GP2) of the flexible substrate (1200) so that the metal film (1060) adheres to the ground portions (GP1, GP2). The adhesive layer (1070) may be formed of a non-conductive material. Accordingly, the metal film (1060) formed on the inner surface of the housing (1050) may be formed in a floating structure that is electrically isolated from the ground portions (GP1, GP2). The adhesive layer (1070) may have an opening region formed in the first portion (P1) and the second portion (P2) of the flexible substrate (1200). Accordingly, the adhesive layer (1070) can be separated from the metal pads and the feed line (FL) of the first portion (P1) and the second portion (P2) of the flexible substrate (1200).

[0154] For example, the adhesive layer (1070) may be formed of a conductive material. Accordingly, the metal film (1060) formed on the inner surface of the housing (1050) may be formed as a ground structure electrically connected to the ground portions (GP1, GP2). The adhesive layer (1070) may have an opening area formed at the connection portion of the first portion (P1), the second portion (P2) of the flexible substrate (1200) and the feed line (FL). Accordingly, the adhesive layer (1070) may be electrically isolated from the metal pads of the first portion (P1) and the second portion (P2) of the flexible substrate (1200) and the feed line (FL).

[0155] As another example, the adhesive layer (1070) may be formed of a non-conductive material. The upper boundary of the adhesive layer (1070) may be positioned lower than the lower end of the connection portion of the feed line (FL). Accordingly, the adhesive layer (1070) may be electrically isolated from the metal pads of the first portion (P1) and the second portion (P2) of the flexible substrate (1200) and the feed line (FL).

[0156] Meanwhile, in the transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure, one end and the other end of the flexible substrate (1200) may be connected to the laminated structure of the antenna region and the cable (100c), respectively. In this regard, FIG. 16 illustrates a cross-sectional view in which one end and the other end of the flexible substrate in the transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure are connected to the laminated structure of the antenna region and the cable, respectively.

[0157] Referring to FIGS. 6, 15, and 16, in order to enhance the durability of the transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure, a housing (1050) is proposed that fixes the joint between the antenna pattern and the feed line (FL) and the connection connecting the feed line (FL) and the cable (100c). The antenna module proposed in the present disclosure may have a structure that fixes the ACF bonding portion, the feed line (FL), and the cable (100c), which may be vulnerable to vibration and shock.

[0158] In this regard, a structure for fixing a cable (100c) can be implemented by a connector (10c) arranged on a first portion (P1) of a flexible substrate (1200). A signal line (SL) of the cable (100c) can be connected by a feed line (FL) connected to a second portion (P2) of the flexible substrate (1200). An antenna pattern corresponding to a plurality of antenna elements can be connected to the feed line (FL) through a third portion (P3) of the flexible substrate (1200) implemented as an ACF bonding portion.

[0159] A transparent antenna can be attached to a glass panel (10) of a vehicle using an optically clear adhesive (OCA). A housing (1050) to which an adhesive is attached can be used to secure a joint between an antenna pad and a feed line (FL) and a connection between the feed line (FL) and a cable (100c). The housing (1050) can be formed to include a metal film (1060). When the transparent antenna is mounted on the glass of a vehicle, the transparent antenna can include a plurality of antenna elements that are arranged adjacently.

[0160] Meanwhile, radio interference may occur due to adjacent antennas. In this regard, when a housing (1050) coated with a metal film (1060) is applied, a shielding structure can be formed for the feed line (FL) covered by the housing (1050) coated with the metal film (1060). The shielding structure of the housing (1050) coated with the metal film (1060) can reduce noise caused by external signals, thereby reducing signal loss occurring during signal transmission.

[0161] Referring to FIGS. 6, 15 and 16, a third portion (P3) of a flexible substrate (1200) formed adjacent to a boundary between a transparent region (11) and an opaque region (12) of a glass panel (10) can be combined with an end portion of an antenna region (1100) formed in the transparent region (11). The third portion (P3) of the flexible substrate (1200) can include a feed line (FL) and a first ground portion (GP1) and a second ground portion (GP2) arranged spaced apart from one side and the other side of the feed line (FL).

[0162] An antenna region (1100) disposed in a transparent region (11) of a 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 to adhere to the transparent region (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 to be laminated on the first adhesive layer (1001). The metal electrode layer (1100a) may be formed to have a structure in which a resin is filled between metal grids of a metal material. The transparent substrate layer (1010) may be formed to be laminated on the metal electrode layer (1100a). The feed line (FL) of the third portion (P3) of the flexible substrate (1200) may be connected to an end of the antenna pattern of the metal electrode layer (1100a). The feed line (FL) of the third portion (P3) of the flexible substrate (1200) may be connected to some of the metal grids forming the metal electrode layer (1100a).

[0163] Meanwhile, one end of the first adhesive layer (1001) in the uniaxial direction may be formed to be aligned with one end of the transparent substrate layer (1010). The other end of the first adhesive layer (1001) in the uniaxial direction may be formed at an inner point of the antenna region (1100) relative to the other end of the transparent substrate layer (1010). The other end of the first adhesive layer (1001) in the uniaxial direction may be arranged to be aligned to be in contact with the boundary of the third portion (P3) of the flexible substrate (1200). The thickness of the first adhesive layer (1001) may be formed to be the same as the thickness of the flexible substrate (1200) and the thickness of the feed line (FL) of the third portion (P3).

[0164] Meanwhile, the transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure may be placed on the windshield of a vehicle. The transparent antenna module placed on the windshield of a vehicle may be configured to include multiple antennas. In this regard, FIG. 17 illustrates antennas placed on the windshield of a vehicle. FIGS. 18a and 18b illustrate a transparent antenna module including the first to fourth antennas of FIG. 17.

[0165] Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18a, a first antenna (1110) and a second antenna (1120) may be disposed on a first region (101R1) of a windshield (101) disposed at a front area of ​​a vehicle. Ends of the first antenna (1110) and the second antenna (1120) may be connected to a first feed line (FL1) of a first flexible substrate (1200a) and a second feed line (FL2) of a second flexible substrate (1200). The first feed line (FL1) of the first flexible substrate (1200a) may be connected to a first cable (110c). The second feed line (FL2) of the second flexible substrate (1200) may be connected to a second cable (120c).

[0166] Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18b, a third antenna (1130) and a fourth antenna (1140) may be disposed on a second area (101R2) of a windshield (101) disposed in the front area of ​​a vehicle. Ends of the third antenna (1130) and the fourth antenna (1140) may be connected to a third feed line (FL3) of a third flexible substrate (1200c) and a fourth feed line (FL4) of a fourth flexible substrate (1200). The third feed line (FL3) of the third flexible substrate (1200c) may be connected to a third cable (130c). The fourth feed line (FL3) of the third flexible substrate (1200c) may be connected to a fourth cable (140c).

[0167] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 16 to 18b, the glass panel (10) may be a windshield (101) disposed in the front area of ​​the vehicle. A first antenna (1110) and a second antenna (1120) may be disposed in an antenna area (1100) corresponding to a transparent area (101a) of the windshield (101). The cable (100c) may be configured to include a first cable (110c) and a second cable (120c). The first cable (110c) may be connected to an end of the first antenna (1110) via a first feed line (FL1). The second cable (120c) may be connected to an end of the second antenna (1110) via a second feed line (FL2).

[0168] Meanwhile, a plurality of antenna elements disposed on the windshield (101) of the vehicle may be disposed on the left and right areas of the upper portion of the windshield (101). In this regard, the plurality of antenna elements may be configured to include a first antenna (1110) to a fourth antenna (1140).

[0169] In this regard, the opaque region (101b) of the front glass (101) may be formed with a first vertical length (Lv1) in the first region (101R1) and the second region (101R2) in the vertical axis direction of the front glass (101). A third region (101R3) may be formed between the first region (101R1) and the second region (101R2) of the front glass (101). The opaque region (101b) in the third region (101R3) between the first region (101R1) and the second region (101R2) of the front glass (101) may be formed with a second vertical length (Lv2) longer than the first vertical length (Lv1).

[0170] A first antenna (1110) and a second antenna (1120) may be placed in a first area (101R1) of the front glass (101). A third antenna (1130) and a fourth antenna (1140) may be placed in a second area (101R2) of the front glass (101).

[0171] Meanwhile, in the transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure, the cable structure may be connected to the metal pad of the flexible substrate without a connector or may be connected to the metal pad of the flexible substrate through a connector. In this regard, FIG. 19 illustrates a first cable structure connected to the metal pad of the flexible substrate without a connector and a second cable structure connected to the metal pad of the flexible substrate through a connector in the transparent antenna module according to the present disclosure. Meanwhile, FIG. 20 compares the signal performance of the first and second cable structures of FIG. 19.

[0172] Referring to FIGS. 19 and 20, the insertion loss characteristics of the first cable structure connected to the metal pad of the flexible substrate without a connector and the first cable structure connected to the metal pad of the flexible substrate through a connector have almost similar characteristics across the entire frequency band.

[0173] Among the operating frequency bands of the transparent antenna module, the insertion loss value of the second cable structure is lower than that of the first cable structure in the range of 2.25 GHz to 2.5 GHz and 2.9 GHz to 3.5 GHz. In addition, among the operating frequency bands of the transparent antenna module, the insertion loss value of the second cable structure is lower than that of the first cable structure in the range of 2.9 GHz to 4.5 GHz. Referring to FIGS. 6, 14, 19, and 20, the insertion loss value of the second cable structure is reduced by the connection structure by the connector (10c) and the housing (1050) coated with the metal film (1060). Therefore, the mechanical strength and electrical characteristics of the cable (100c) can be improved by the connection structure by the connector (10c) and the housing (1050) coated with the metal film (1060).

[0174] The above describes a high-durability transparent antenna module for vehicles according to the present specification. The technical effects of the high-durability transparent antenna module for vehicles according to the present specification are as follows.

[0175] According to this specification, a transparent antenna module for a vehicle that can be placed on the side window, windshield, sunroof, rear window, side mirror, and headlamp of a vehicle can be applied to 5G and V2X communications without being restricted by vehicle design.

[0176] According to this specification, the joining process can be simplified by performing terminal processing on the joining portion of the cable connected to the flexible substrate on which the power line is formed, and the power line and the cable can be firmly fixed.

[0177] According to this specification, the contact area with the power line is expanded by using a connector to terminate the ground wire of the cable, and by applying lead to the area, the power line and the cable can be connected with little heat.

[0178] According to this specification, the housing can be used to protect the ACF bonding portion, power lines and cables that may be vulnerable to vibration and shock.

[0179] According to this specification, the inside of the housing can be configured with a shielding structure to reduce noise caused by external signals and reduce signal loss occurring during antenna signal transmission.

[0180] According to this specification, the cable terminal processing and housing structure design can be expected to simplify the manufacturing process, reduce the defect rate, prevent damage caused by vehicle vibration or impact, and improve signal performance.

[0181] Further scope of the applicability of this specification will become apparent from the detailed description below. However, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of this specification will be apparent to those skilled in the art, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, such as preferred embodiments, are given by way of example only.

[0182] Meanwhile, the detailed description above should not be construed as limiting in any respect and should be considered illustrative. The scope of this specification should be determined by a reasonable interpretation of the appended claims, and all changes within the equivalent scope of this specification are intended to be included within the scope of this specification.

Claims

1. In a transparent antenna module for a vehicle, A flexible substrate disposed on an opaque area of ​​a glass panel, having a metal pad disposed on a first portion and a feed line disposed on a second portion spaced apart from the first portion; An antenna area disposed in the transparent area of ​​the above 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 the lower end of the ground wire of the cable, and formed with a first length in one axial direction of the flexible substrate and a first width in the other axial direction perpendicular to the one axial direction, The ground wire of the cable and the metal pad arranged on the first portion of the flexible substrate are electrically connected by the connector, A transparent antenna module for a vehicle, wherein the signal line at one end of the cable and the feed line arranged at the second part of the flexible substrate are connected.

2. In paragraph 1, The flexible substrate and the cable are arranged in an opaque area on the upper part of the windshield of the vehicle, and the metal electrode layer of the antenna area is arranged on the windshield. A transparent antenna module for a vehicle, wherein the above cable is arranged in one axial direction corresponding to the vertical axis direction of the above opaque area.

3. In paragraph 1, The above flexible substrate and the above cable are arranged in an opaque area on the upper part of the windshield of the vehicle, The flexible substrate includes a first region disposed between the first glass and the second glass of the glass panel, a second region disposed on a side of the first glass, and a third region disposed on a front surface of the first glass. The metal electrode layer of the above antenna area is disposed between the first glass and the second glass, A transparent antenna module for a vehicle, wherein the cable connected to the third region of the flexible substrate is arranged in an axial direction corresponding to the horizontal axis direction of the opaque region.

4. In paragraph 1, The first portion of the flexible substrate is formed as a ground area in which a metal pattern is formed with a second length in the one-axis direction and a second width in the other-axis direction, The first portion and the second portion of the flexible substrate form a first surface of the flexible substrate, The second side of the flexible substrate is attached to the opaque area of ​​the glass panel, A transparent antenna module for a vehicle, wherein the second length is formed longer than the first length, and the second width is formed wider than the first length.

5. In paragraph 1, A first cross-section of a first point of the cable connected to the feed line formed on the flexible substrate is formed to include the signal line, the first conductor portion, the dielectric portion, and the ground line, An antenna module, wherein a second cross-section of a second point of the cable disposed in the opaque area on the outside of the flexible substrate is formed to include the signal line, the first conductor portion, the dielectric portion, the ground line, and the second conductor portion.

6. In paragraph 4, Further comprising a housing having an upper structure, a first lower support, a second lower support, a first side connection and a second side connection so that the cable is accommodated in an inner area; The housing is formed to have a third length or more to cover the first portion and the second portion in the uniaxial direction, and the housing is formed to have a fourth length or less to be placed in the opaque area. A transparent antenna module for a vehicle, wherein the third width of the housing in the direction of the other axis is formed larger than the second width.

7. In paragraph 6, A transparent antenna module for a vehicle, further comprising a metal film integrally formed on the inner surface of the upper structure of the housing, the inner surface of the first side connecting portion, the inner surface of the second side connecting portion, the inner surface of the first lower support portion, and the inner surface of the second lower support portion.

8. In paragraph 7, The thickness of the above metal film is formed to be 0.1 mm or more for shielding performance, A transparent antenna module for a vehicle, wherein the thickness of the metal film is formed to be 2.0 mm or less so that the signal loss of the signal line and the feed line is below a certain level.

9. In paragraph 1, The first length of the connector is formed to be at least 0.25 times the diameter of the cable to prevent damage during soldering and fixation. A transparent antenna module for a vehicle, wherein the first length of the connector is formed to be 1.5 times or less the diameter of the cable so that interference with signals of the signal line and the feed line is below a certain level.

10. In paragraph 9, The first width of the above connector is formed to be at least 1.5 times the diameter of the cable for fixing during soldering, A transparent antenna module for a vehicle, wherein the first width of the connector is formed to be less than three times the diameter of the cable so that interference with signals of the signal line and the feed line is below a certain level.

11. In paragraph 7, The thickness of the above connector is formed to be 100um or more to prevent bending and damage during the process. A transparent antenna module for a vehicle, wherein the thickness of the connector is formed to be 400 um or less so that the signal loss of the signal line and the feed line is below a certain level.

12. In paragraph 11, The thickness of the metal material coated on the connector is formed to be 5um or more for connection with the power line, A transparent antenna module for a vehicle, wherein the thickness of the metal material coated on the connector is formed to be 50 um or less to prevent cold soldering and to electrically isolate it from the metal film on the inner surface of the housing.

13. In paragraph 7, One end of the flexible substrate is placed at the boundary of the opaque region, A transparent antenna module for a vehicle, further comprising a cable holder formed to surround the cable at a predetermined interval from the other end of the flexible substrate and configured to secure the cable.

14. In paragraph 13, The lower region of the housing is formed into a circular shape with a first diameter in cross section corresponding to the shape of the cable, The lower part of the housing is formed into a circular shape with a second diameter in cross section so that the cable fixed by the cable holder is fixed, A transparent antenna module for a vehicle, wherein the second diameter is formed smaller than the first diameter.

15. In paragraph 14, The metal film is disposed between the metal film and the ground area so as to adhere to the ground area of ​​the flexible substrate, and further includes an adhesive layer formed of a non-conductive material. A transparent antenna module for a vehicle, wherein the adhesive layer has an opening area formed in the first portion and the second portion, such that the adhesive layer is separated from the metal pad and the feed line of the first portion and the second portion of the flexible substrate.

16. In paragraph 14, A third portion of the flexible substrate formed adjacent to the boundary between the transparent region and the opaque region is coupled to an end of the antenna region formed in the transparent region, A transparent antenna module for a vehicle, wherein the third part includes a first ground portion and a second ground portion arranged spaced apart from the feed line and one side and the other side of the feed line.

17. In paragraph 16, The above antenna area is, A first adhesive layer adhered to the transparent area of ​​the glass panel; A metal electrode layer formed to be laminated on the first adhesive layer; It includes a transparent substrate layer formed to be laminated on the above metal electrode layer, A transparent antenna module for a vehicle, wherein the feed line of the third part is connected to an end of the antenna pattern of the metal electrode layer.

18. In paragraph 17, One end of the first adhesive layer in the uniaxial direction is formed to be aligned with one end of the transparent substrate layer, The other end of the first adhesive layer in the uniaxial direction is formed at an inner point of the antenna region than the other end of the transparent substrate layer, The other end of the first adhesive layer is arranged so as to be in contact with the boundary of the third part of the flexible substrate, A transparent antenna module for a vehicle, wherein the thickness of the first adhesive layer is formed to be equal to the sum of the thickness of the flexible substrate and the thickness of the feed line of the third portion.

19. In paragraph 17, The above glass panel is a windshield placed in the front area of ​​the vehicle, A first antenna and a second antenna are arranged in the antenna area corresponding to the transparent area of ​​the front glass, A vehicle antenna module, wherein the cable includes a first cable and a second cable connected to an end of the first antenna and an end of the second antenna.

20. In paragraph 19, The above opaque area is, It is formed with a first vertical length in the first region and the second region in the vertical axis direction of the front glass, In a third region between the first region and the second region, a second vertical length is formed that is longer than the first vertical length, A vehicle antenna module, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are arranged in the first region, and the third antenna and the fourth antenna are arranged in the second region.

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