Antenna attachment support for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a closure member (8) for closing an opening (71) formed in a partition (7) of a motor vehicle (100), wherein the closure member (8) comprises: - attachment means (81) for attaching the closure member (8) to the partition, in particular attachment clips (811); - a seal (82) for forming a sealed interface with the partition (7); - an attachment interface (83) for attaching an antenna (33); and - a hole (84) through which an antenna wire (331) passes.

Description

[0001] TITLE: Mounting bracket for an antenna for a motor vehicle.

[0002] The invention relates to a mounting bracket for an antenna for a motor vehicle. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle equipped with a mounting bracket according to the invention. The invention finally relates to a method for assembling an antenna on a mounting bracket according to the invention.

[0003] Today's vehicles are equipped with centralized door management systems that communicate with an electronic key to lock and unlock the vehicle's doors. In particular, hands-free kits allow doors to be automatically unlocked when the electronic key is within a detection zone, and automatically locked when the electronic key leaves the detection zone.

[0004] However, there are configurations in which the automatic locking of the openings is implemented while the key is inside the vehicle, the user being unable to retrieve his key locked in the vehicle. This is the case in particular when the key is placed in an area of ​​the vehicle where the key is undetectable by the antennas, for example in a pickup truck trunk.

[0005] The aim of the invention is to provide a mounting bracket for an antenna and a method for assembling an antenna on a mounting bracket according to the invention, which overcomes the above drawbacks and improves the fixing devices and brackets known from the prior art. In particular, the invention makes it possible to produce a mounting bracket for an antenna and a method for assembling an antenna which are simple and reliable and which allow the centralized management system to detect an electronic key in areas where the key was previously undetectable. To this end, the invention relates to a shutter for closing an opening formed in a partition of a motor vehicle, the shutter comprising

[0006] - fixing means for fixing the shutter to the partition, in particular fixing clips,

[0007] - a seal to form a watertight interface with the partition,

[0008] - a fixing interface for fixing an antenna, and

[0009] - a hole for the passage of an antenna wire.

[0010] The invention further relates to an arrangement comprising

[0011] - a shutter according to the invention,

[0012] - an antenna attached to the shutter, and

[0013] - a partition provided with an opening, the shutter being fixed to the partition and closing said opening.

[0014] In one embodiment, the opening in the partition of the arrangement is an opening created in the partition for the discharge of a cataphoretic liquid during a cataphoretic treatment of the partition.

[0015] In one embodiment, the antenna of the arrangement comprises an antenna wire passing through the hole of the shutter of the arrangement and the antenna wire has an overmolding for sealing the hole of the shutter of the arrangement.

[0016] In one embodiment, the partition of the arrangement is made of metal and / or metal alloy.

[0017] In one embodiment, the partition of the arrangement is an element of a body of a motor vehicle, arranged between a passenger compartment and a rear compartment of the motor vehicle and it prevents propagation of electromagnetic waves between the passenger compartment and the rear compartment. In one embodiment, the antenna is an antenna for detecting an unlocking badge of at least one opening of a set of openings of the motor vehicle and the antenna is arranged in the rear compartment of the motor vehicle.

[0018] In one embodiment, the motor vehicle comprises a centralized management system for all the openings of the motor vehicle, the centralized management system being located on the same side of the wall as the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, and the antenna is arranged in the rear compartment and connected to the centralized management system by an antenna wire passing through the hole in the shutter of the arrangement.

[0019] The invention further relates to a motor vehicle comprising a shutter according to the invention or an arrangement according to the invention.

[0020] The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing an arrangement, comprising

[0021] - a step of manufacturing a partition of the arrangement comprising an opening,

[0022] - a step of manufacturing a shutter of the arrangement,

[0023] - a cataphoresis treatment step of the partition of the arrangement,

[0024] - a step of evacuating a cataphoresis liquid through said opening in the partition,

[0025] - a stage of assembly of an arrangement, comprising

[0026] (i) a sub-step of assembling the shutter to the partition, the shutter sealing the opening of the partition in a watertight manner,

[0027] (ii) a sub-step of passing a wire of the antenna of the arrangement through a hole of the shutter and closing the hole of the shutter by overmolding the wire of the antenna of the arrangement, and (iii) a sub-step of fixing the antenna on the fixing interface of the shutter.

[0028] The attached drawing represents, by way of example, an embodiment of an antenna mounting bracket according to the invention.

[0029] Figure 1 represents a motor vehicle equipped with an embodiment of an antenna mounting bracket according to the invention.

[0030] Figure 2 is a first perspective view of a fixing support according to the invention.

[0031] Figure 3 is a second perspective view of a fixing bracket according to the invention.

[0032] Figure 4 represents an embodiment of a partition of an arrangement according to the invention.

[0033] Figure 5 illustrates an arrangement according to the invention comprising a fixing support according to the invention.

[0034] Figure 6 illustrates a sub-step of a method of manufacturing an arrangement according to the invention, comprising an assembly of a support for fixing the arrangement to a partition of the arrangement.

[0035] Figure 7 illustrates a sub-step of the method of manufacturing an arrangement according to the invention, comprising passing a wire of an antenna of the arrangement through a hole in the fixing support of the arrangement.

[0036] Figure 8 illustrates a sub-step of the method of manufacturing an arrangement according to the invention, comprising closing the hole in the fixing support of the arrangement by overmolding the wire of the antenna of the arrangement.

[0037] Figure 9 illustrates a sub-step of the method of manufacturing an arrangement according to the invention, comprising a connection of the antenna of the arrangement to an antenna connector. Figure 10 is a first illustration of a final sub-step of the method of manufacturing an arrangement according to the invention, comprising a fixing of the antenna on a fixing interface of the fixing support of the arrangement.

[0038] Figure 11 is a second illustration of the final sub-step of the method of manufacturing an arrangement according to the invention.

[0039] Figure 12 is a third illustration of the final sub-step of the method of manufacturing an arrangement according to the invention.

[0040] An example of a motor vehicle 100 equipped with an embodiment of a shutter according to the invention is described below with reference to FIG. 1.

[0041] The motor vehicle 100 comprises a passenger compartment 5 and a compartment 6 separated from the passenger compartment 5 by a partition 7, the partition 7 being made of metal or a metal alloy, such as steel. For example, the motor vehicle 100 may be a pick-up or a truck. The compartment 6 may be a pickup or truck bed. The bed may be closed by a rear drop side or a closing hood covering the top.

[0042] The motor vehicle 100 further comprises a set of openings 1, a locking device 2 for the openings of the motor vehicle 100 and a centralized management system 3 for the set of openings 1. The locking device 2 comprises at least one electronic key 21.

[0043] In the remainder of the document, the terms "open" or "opening" are used to describe an action on an opening that allows a user to move from the inside to the outside of the vehicle or vice versa. Similarly, the terms "close" or "closing" are used to describe an action on an opening that prevents a user from moving from the inside to the outside of the vehicle or vice versa. Furthermore, the terms "lock" or "locking" are used to describe an action that prevents a user from opening an opening of the vehicle. Similarly, the terms "unlock" or "unlocking" are used to describe an action that allows a user to open an opening of the vehicle.

[0044] In the remainder of the document, the term "electronic key" is used to refer to a key containing an electronic chip.

[0045] In the remainder of the document, an embodiment of a motor vehicle 100 carrying the invention is described.

[0046] Technical means are necessary for the electronic key 21 to control the centralized management system 3. In particular, the electronic key 21 comprises a communication means 210 for communicating with the centralized management system 3 of the set of openings 1.

[0047] The set of openings 1 comprises doors of the passenger compartment, for example two or four doors, and at least one opening of the compartment 6.

[0048] The centralized management system 3 is part of the on-board electronics of the motor vehicle 100. In one embodiment, it comprises at least one antenna 31 arranged in the motor vehicle 100. In one embodiment, the system 3 comprises several antennas 31, 32, 33, some of which are arranged at the level of the two front doors of the motor vehicle 100.

[0049] In one embodiment, the antennas 31, 32, 33 are receiving radio antennas whose function is to pick up an electromagnetic signal, in particular emitted at a given frequency, by the communication means 210 of the electronic key 21. In one embodiment, the antennas 31, 32, 33 of the centralized management system 3 detect different frequencies, corresponding respectively to different types of commands from the electronic key 21.

[0050] In an advantageous embodiment, the key 21 has a hands-free function. An electromagnetic signal specific to the hands-free function (in particular having a frequency dedicated to the hands-free function) can be continuously emitted by the key 21. When the key enters a proximity zone of the vehicle, for example within a radius of one meter of the vehicle, the detection of the electromagnetic signal specific to the hands-free function in this zone results in automatic unlocking of the openings. Conversely, non-detection of the electromagnetic signal specific to the hands-free function in this zone results in automatic locking of the openings.

[0051] The invention relates more particularly to vehicles comprising a rear compartment whose walls block the passage of electromagnetic waves. This is the case, for example, when the volume of the rear compartment 6 is delimited by a set of metal walls, including a partition 7 separating the passenger compartment 5 and the rear compartment 6. One embodiment of a partition 7 is illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0052] In one embodiment, the partition 7 is a metal or metal alloy plate that creates a separation between the passenger compartment 5 and the compartment 6, a first face 72 of the partition being oriented towards the passenger compartment and a second face 73 of the partition being oriented towards the compartment 6. If the compartment 6 is not equipped with an antenna capable of communicating with the centralized opening management system 3, then the centralized opening management system 3 does not receive the waves emitted by a key 21 when it is placed in the closed compartment 6. Consequently, when a user accidentally places the key 21 in the compartment 6, then closes the opening of the compartment 6, then all the openings of the vehicle close automatically, since the key is no longer picked up by the antennas arranged in the passenger compartment 5. The user then no longer has the possibility of opening his vehicle.

[0053] In order to provide a solution to this problem, the invention relates to a shutter for closing an opening 71 formed in a partition 7 of a motor vehicle, the shutter comprising

[0054] - fixing means 81 for fixing the shutter 8 to the partition 7, in particular fixing clips 811,

[0055] - a seal 82 to form a sealed interface with the partition 7,

[0056] - a fixing interface 83 for fixing an antenna 33, and

[0057] - a hole 84 providing a passage for an antenna wire 331.

[0058] The shutter according to the invention is described below with reference to Figures 2 and 3.

[0059] Advantageously, when the shutter is fixed to the partition 7, the hole 84 of the shutter 8 is arranged opposite the opening 71 of the partition 7, thus creating a passage for an antenna wire 331 through the partition 7. The antenna wire 331 allows the centralized management system 3 to receive and process a signal received by the antenna 331.

[0060] The shutter has a substantially flat main surface 85, of which a first face 851, visible in FIG. 3, is intended to be oriented towards the passenger compartment 5, and a second face 852, visible in FIG. 2, is intended to be oriented towards the compartment 6.

[0061] The arrangements made on the shutter 8 are located on the second face 852. The fixing means 81 for fixing the shutter 8 to the partition 7, comprise fixing clips 811 which collaborate with the edges of the opening 71 of the metal partition 7.

[0062] The sealing gasket 82 advantageously borders the shutter 8, so as to be compressed against the wall 7 when the fixing clips 811 are hooked to the edges of the opening 71.

[0063] The shutter 8 further provides a fixing interface 83 for the antenna 33. The fixing interface 83 advantageously comprises a counterform of the antenna 33, which makes it possible to position the antenna 33 before its fixing to the shutter. The fixing interface 83 further comprises threaded holes intended to collaborate with a screw for fixing the antenna 33.

[0064] The invention further relates to an arrangement 10, illustrated in particular by FIG. 5, comprising

[0065] - a shutter 8 as previously described,

[0066] - an antenna 33 fixed to the shutter, and

[0067] - a partition 7 provided with an opening 71, the shutter 8 being fixed to the partition 7 and closing said opening 71.

[0068] In the embodiment described, the partition 7 has undergone a cataphoresis treatment, and the partition 7 comprises at least one opening 71 which has allowed a cataphoresis liquid to be evacuated. In one embodiment, the partition 7 is an element of a body of the motor vehicle and the partition is arranged between the passenger compartment 5 and the rear compartment 6 of the motor vehicle so as to isolate the passenger compartment from the rear compartment. The insulation implemented by the partition 7 may be thermal insulation and / or sound insulation. In the embodiment described, the partition 7 prevents propagation of electromagnetic waves between the passenger compartment

[0069] 5 and the rear compartment 6.

[0070] The antenna 33 is an antenna for detecting a badge for unlocking at least one opening of the motor vehicle and the antenna 33 is arranged in the rear compartment 6 of the motor vehicle 100.

[0071] Advantageously, the antenna 33 comprises an antenna wire 331 passing through the hole 84 of the shutter 8 and the antenna wire 331 has an overmolding 332 intended to hermetically close the hole 84 of the shutter 8.

[0072] In addition, the vehicle comprises a centralized management system 3 for the set of openings 1 of the motor vehicle 100, the centralized management system 3 being located on the same side of the wall 7 as the passenger compartment 5 of the motor vehicle 100. The system 3 is capable of processing

[0073] - signals received by antennas 31, 32 located in the passenger compartment 5, and

[0074] - signals received by the antenna 33 located in the compartment 6 and connected to the centralized management system 3 by the antenna wire 331 passing through the hole in the shutter.

[0075] The invention further relates to a motor vehicle comprising a shutter according to the invention or an arrangement according to the invention.

[0076] The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing an arrangement according to the invention, comprising

[0077] - a step E1 of manufacturing a partition 7 of the arrangement 10 comprising an opening 71,

[0078] - a step E2 of manufacturing a shutter 8 of the arrangement 10,

[0079] - a step E3 of cataphoresis treatment of the partition 7 of the arrangement 10,

[0080] - a step E4 of evacuating a cataphoresis liquid through said opening 71 of the partition 7,

[0081] - a step E5 of mounting an arrangement 10.

[0082] In step E1, a substantially flat partition 7 is manufactured and at least one opening 71 is created in the partition 7, the opening being intended to promote a flow of cataphoresis liquid during treatment of the partition 7 by cataphoresis. Then we continue with step E2.

[0083] In a step E2, the shutter 8 is manufactured by adapting its shape to the shape of the opening 71 of the partition 7. The shutter 8 can be manufactured by molding.

[0084] The manufacture of the shutter 8 advantageously comprises the manufacture of fixing means 81 for fixing the shutter 8 to the partition 7, in particular fixing clips 811.

[0085] In addition, the manufacture of the shutter 8 includes the manufacture and installation of a seal 82 on the circumference of the shutter. In addition, the manufacture of the shutter 8 includes the manufacture of a fixing interface 83 intended to fix an antenna 33.

[0086] Additionally, the fabrication of the shutter 8 includes the creation of a hole 84 intended to provide a passage for an antenna wire 331.

[0087] In step E3, partition 7 is treated by cataphoresis.

[0088] Then, in a step E4, a cataphoresis liquid is evacuated through the opening 71 of the partition. Then, in a step E5, the arrangement 10 is mounted. The sub-steps of step E5 are detailed in figures 3 and 8 to 12.

[0089] Step E5 comprises a sub-step E51 of assembling the shutter 8 to the partition 7, the shutter 8 sealing the opening 71 of the partition 7 in a sealed manner. Sub-step E51 can be executed before or after the sub-steps E52 and E53 described below.

[0090] In sub-step E51, the seal 82 (visible in FIG. 6) is arranged so as to border the shutter 8. Then the shutter 8 is inserted into the opening 71 of the partition 7. For this, the shutter 8 is initially placed on the side of the first face 72 of the partition 7, that is to say on the side of the partition 7 intended to be oriented towards the passenger compartment 5. Then, the shutter is inserted into the opening 71 of the partition 7, in a movement starting from the passenger compartment 5 and heading towards the compartment 6, the first face 851 of the shutter 8 then being oriented towards the passenger compartment 5 and the second face 852 of the shutter 8 being oriented towards the rear compartment. The assembly formed by the perimeter of the shutter 8 and the seal 82 is thus placed in abutment on an area surrounding the opening 71 of the partition 7.By continuing to exert a force in the same direction, the seal 82 is compressed between the shutter 8 and the partition 7 until the fixing clips 811, arranged on the second face 852 of the shutter 8, hook onto the second face 73 of the partition 7, that is to say the face of the partition 7 which is oriented towards the compartment 6. The compression of the seal 82 then makes it possible to guarantee the sealing of the device while reinforcing the connection between the partition 7 and the shutter 8.

[0091] In sub-step E52, illustrated by figure 7, a wire 331 of the antenna 33 of the arrangement 10 is passed through a hole 84 of the shutter 8 and the hole 84 of the shutter 8 is closed by an overmolding 332 of the wire 331 of the antenna 33 of the arrangement 10. The antenna wire 331 is intended to allow transmission of the signals received by the antenna 33 to the management system 3. The antenna wire 331 is therefore intended to be connected

[0092] - at a first end to the antenna 33 arranged in the compartment 6, the first end of the antenna wire 331 being equipped with an antenna connector 333, and

[0093] - at a second end to the management system 3 located on the same side of the wall 7 as the passenger compartment.

[0094] The antenna wire 331 must therefore pass through the wall 7 as well as the shutter 8. To allow the passage of the antenna wire 331 through the wall while ensuring the seal between the passenger compartment 5 and the compartment 6, the overmolding 332 of the wire 331 collaborates with the edges of the hole 84 made in the shutter 8. In particular, in the embodiment illustrated by FIG. 7, the overmolding 332 has a groove 3321 in which the edges of the hole 84 are inserted.

[0095] In sub-step E53, the antenna 33 is fixed to the fixing interface 83 of the shutter 8, the fixing interface being arranged on the second face 852 of the shutter 8. In the embodiment described by FIGS. 9 to 12, before fixing the antenna 33 to the fixing interface 83, the antenna 33 is connected to the antenna connector 333 equipping the first end of the antenna wire 331. Alternatively, the connection of the antenna 33 to the antenna connector could be made after the fixing of the antenna 33.

[0096] The attachment of the antenna 33 is facilitated by the presence of the counterform of the antenna 33 produced on the second face 852 of the shutter 8, which makes it possible to position the antenna 33 before its attachment to the shutter 8. The antenna is then held by two screws 812 collaborating with the two threaded holes present on the second face 852 of the shutter 8. Finally, the shutter according to the invention makes it possible to arrange an antenna capable of communicating with a centralized management system for the openings in a rear compartment of a motor vehicle. An electronic key placed in the rear compartment is then detectable by the centralized management system for the openings, while the key and the centralized management system are separated by a partition blocking the passage of electromagnetic waves.

[0097] The arrangement according to the invention thus eliminates the risk of locking all the vehicle's openings while the electronic key is in the rear compartment.

[0098] The proposed solution is economical and simple to implement, as it does not require any modification of the partition wall between the passenger compartment and the rear compartment, since the arrangement according to the invention is arranged in a pre-existing opening, which was created in the partition for the evacuation of a cataphoresis liquid during a cataphoresis treatment of the partition.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Shutter (8) for closing an opening (71) formed in a partition (7) of a motor vehicle (100), the shutter (8) comprising - fixing means (81) for fixing the shutter (8) to the partition, in particular fixing clips (811), - a seal (82) to form a sealed interface with the partition (7), - a fixing interface (83) for fixing an antenna (33), and - a hole (84) for the passage of an antenna wire (331).

2. Arrangement (10) comprising - a shutter (8) according to the preceding claim, - an antenna (33) fixed to the shutter (8), and - a partition (7) provided with an opening (71), the shutter (8) being fixed to the partition (7) and closing said opening (71).

3. Arrangement (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the opening (71) of the partition (7) of the arrangement (10) is an opening (71) created in the partition (7) for the evacuation of a cataphoresis liquid during a cataphoresis treatment of the partition (7).

4. Arrangement (10) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the antenna (33) of the arrangement (10) comprises an antenna wire (331) passing through the hole (84) of the shutter (8) of the arrangement (10) and in that the antenna wire (331) has an overmolding (332) intended to hermetically close the hole (84) of the shutter (8) of the arrangement (10).

5. Arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the partition (7) of the arrangement (10) is made of metal and / or metal alloy.

6. Arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the partition (7) of the arrangement (10) is an element of a body of a motor vehicle (100), in that it is arranged between a passenger compartment (5) and a rear compartment (6) of the motor vehicle (100) and in that it prevents propagation of electromagnetic waves between the passenger compartment (5) and the rear compartment (6).

7. Arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the antenna (33) is an antenna for detecting an unlocking badge of at least one opening of a set of openings (1) of the motor vehicle (100) and in that the antenna (33) is arranged in the rear compartment (6) of the motor vehicle.

8. Arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the motor vehicle (100) comprises a centralized management system (3) for the set of openings (1) of the motor vehicle (100), the centralized management system (3) being located on the same side of the wall (7) as the passenger compartment (5) of the motor vehicle (100), and in that the antenna (33) is arranged in the rear compartment (6) and connected to the centralized management system (3) by an antenna wire (331) passing through the hole (84) of the shutter (8) of the arrangement (10).

9. Motor vehicle comprising a shutter (8) according to claim 1 or an arrangement (10) according to one of claims 2 to 8.

10. Method for manufacturing an arrangement (10) according to one of claims 2 to 8, comprising a step (E1) of manufacturing a partition (7) of the arrangement (10) comprising an opening (71), a step (E2) of manufacturing a shutter (8) of the arrangement (10), a step (E3) of cataphoresis treatment of the partition (7) of the arrangement (10), - a step (E4) of evacuating a cataphoresis liquid through said opening (71) of the partition (7), a step (E5) of mounting an arrangement (10), comprising • a sub-step (E51) of assembling the shutter (8) to the partition (7), the shutter (8) sealing the opening (71) of the partition (7) in a sealed manner, • a sub-step (E52) of passing a wire (331) of the antenna (33) of the arrangement (10) through a hole (84) of the shutter (8) and of closing the hole (84) of the shutter (8) by overmolding (332) the wire (331) of the antenna (33) of the arrangement (10), and • a sub-step (E53) of fixing the antenna (33) on the fixing interface (83) of the shutter (8).

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