Method for producing antenna element unit and electronic component unit, electronic component unit, and antenna element unit

Abstract

The present invention makes the provision form of an antenna device more flexible. A method for producing an antenna element unit and an electronic component unit, comprises: a step for manufacturing the antenna element unit by assembling an antenna element or an antenna element group selected from among a single antenna element, an antenna element group having two or more antenna elements of different shapes, and an antenna element group having two or more antenna elements of the same shape to a holder; and a step for manufacturing the electronic component unit by storing, in a storage space of a case, an electronic component group selected from among a first electronic component group in which a set of a coil component and a first terminal, and a second terminal are mounted on a circuit board, a second electronic component group in which the set of the coil component and the first terminal, and a set of a substrate and a third terminal are mounted on the circuit board, and a third electronic component group in which the second terminal and the set of the substrate and the third terminal are mounted on the circuit board.

Description

Antenna element unit and electronic component unit production method, electronic component unit, and antenna element unit

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for producing an antenna element unit and an electronic component unit, an electronic component unit, and an antenna element unit.

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-144222 discloses an antenna device embedded in a vehicle body.

[0003] Patent No. 7399493

[0004] Conventional antenna devices are provided as an integrated unit consisting of an antenna element and an amplifier unit, etc. This requires that different types of antenna devices be stocked according to the receiving frequencies, methods, and combinations thereof.

[0005] One object of the present invention is to provide an antenna device in a flexible manner. Other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the description of this specification.

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is a method for producing an antenna element unit and an electronic component unit that can be combined with the antenna element unit, comprising the steps of: selectively selecting, in accordance with a desired frequency band, from a single antenna element, an antenna element group having two or more antenna elements of different shapes, or an antenna element group having two or more antenna elements of the same shape; and assembling the selected antenna element or the antenna element group into a holder to manufacture an antenna element unit; and manufacturing a first electronic component group in which a set of a coil component and a first terminal and a second terminal are mounted on a circuit board; and assembling the set of the coil component and the first terminal and the board and the second terminal. a second electronic component group having a set of the coil component and a first terminal mounted on the circuit board, a third electronic component group having a set of the second terminal, the substrate, and a third terminal mounted on the circuit board; a fourth electronic component group having any one of a set of the coil component and a first terminal, the second terminal, or a set of the substrate and a third terminal mounted on the circuit board; and a fifth electronic component group having any one of a plurality of sets of the coil component and a first terminal, a plurality of the second terminals, or a plurality of sets of the substrate and a third terminal mounted on the circuit board, in accordance with a desired frequency band, and accommodating the fifth electronic component group in the accommodating space of the case to manufacture the electronic component unit.

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is an electronic component unit that is integrally combined with an antenna element unit, and includes an electronic component and a case having a storage space for storing the electronic component, and the electronic component is alternatively selected depending on the frequency band.

[0008] One aspect of the present invention is an antenna element unit that is integrally combined with an electronic component unit, comprising an antenna element and a holder that holds the antenna element, and the antenna element is electrically connected to an electronic component unit selectively selected from a plurality of the electronic component units.

[0009] According to the above aspect of the present invention, the antenna device can be provided in a more flexible manner.

[0010] 10 is an exploded perspective view of the antenna device according to the first embodiment, as seen from the upper front left side. FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the antenna device according to the first embodiment, as seen from the lower rear right side. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a process of attaching the first antenna element 100 to the holder 300. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a process of attaching the first antenna element 100 to the holder 300. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a process of attaching the first antenna element 100 to the holder 300. FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the antenna element unit 50 according to the first embodiment, as seen from the lower front left side. FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the electronic component unit 60 according to the first embodiment, as seen from the lower front left side. FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the antenna device according to the first embodiment, as seen from the upper front left side. FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the antenna device according to the first embodiment, as seen from the lower rear right side. FIG. 19 is a plan view of the antenna device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional end view taken along line A-A of FIG. 10. FIG. 19 is a conceptual diagram showing a combination of the antenna element unit 50 and multiple types of electronic component units 60A to 60D. 7A, 7B, and 7C are perspective views of an antenna element unit in which the second antenna element 200 of the antenna element unit 50 shown in FIG. 6 is replaced with a third antenna element 250, and an electronic component unit corresponding to the antenna element unit, as viewed from the front upper right side. FIG. 7B is an explanatory diagram of a variation of the antenna element unit. FIG. 7C is an explanatory diagram of a variation of the electronic component unit. FIG. 7B is an exploded perspective view of the antenna device according to the second embodiment, as viewed from the front upper left side. FIG. 7C is an exploded perspective view of the antenna device according to the second embodiment, as viewed from the rear lower right side. FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C are respectively diagrams showing a process of attaching a first antenna element 500 to a holder 700. FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C are perspective views of the antenna element unit 50E according to the second embodiment, as viewed from the front upper left side. FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C are respectively perspective views showing a process of attaching the antenna element unit 50E according to the second embodiment to a reinforcement 900.

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals. Note that the detailed description of the embodiments and the specific depictions in the drawings do not limit the technical scope of the present invention in any way. Furthermore, in order to facilitate understanding of the embodiments, each drawing may show all or part of the configuration simply or conceptually, and the dimensions, proportions, etc. may differ from the actual configuration.

[0012] When ordinal numbers such as "first," "second," and "third" are used in this specification, unless otherwise specified, they are used merely to distinguish between similarly named configurations and do not imply any particular characteristics of the configurations (e.g., order or importance).

[0013] When expressions indicating directions such as "up," "down," "front," "rear," "left," and "right" are used in this specification, unless otherwise specified, they are for convenience to facilitate understanding of the embodiments and do not necessarily correspond to the actual installation or usage state of the product. Furthermore, the up-down direction does not necessarily correspond to the direction of gravity (vertical direction), and the front-rear direction and left-right direction do not necessarily correspond to the horizontal direction. Therefore, these directional expressions should not be interpreted in a restrictive manner.

[0014] In this specification, when specific means such as screwing, snap fitting, fitting structure, adhesion, welding, etc. are given as means for fixing, connecting, joining, etc., between components, these means are merely examples and can be replaced by other appropriate means. Cases where components are integrated by alternative means are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0015] (First Embodiment) This embodiment relates to an antenna element, an antenna element unit, an electronic component unit, a component set for an antenna device, and an antenna device.

[0016] 1 and 2 are exploded perspective views of the antenna device according to the first embodiment, as viewed from the upper left and front sides, respectively, and as viewed from the lower right and rear sides, respectively.

[0017] The first antenna element 100, the second antenna element 200, and the holder 300 shown in Figures 1 and 2 are combined to form the antenna element unit 50 shown in Figure 6. The case 400, the circuit board 420, the coil component 421, the first terminal 430, the second terminal 440, and the mounting bracket 450 shown in Figure 1 etc. are combined to form the electronic component unit 60 shown in Figure 7. The antenna element unit 50 and the electronic component unit 60, when combined in an unassembled state as shown in Figures 8 to 10, form a component set for an antenna device. The combination of the antenna element unit 50 and the electronic component unit 60 forms the antenna device 70 shown in Figures 8 to 10.

[0018] The antenna device is, for example, a vehicle antenna, and is attached to a vehicle structure that is part of the vehicle inside the vehicle, such as a reinforcement. The reinforcement is provided so as to extend in the left-right direction between the left and right roof side rails. The portion of the vehicle body above the antenna device is made of a radio wave transparent material.

[0019] The front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions of the antenna device are shown in Figures 1 and 2. However, if the antenna device is mounted on an incline, the up-down direction shown in Figure 1 may not be parallel to the vertical direction, and the front-rear and left-right directions shown in Figure 1 may not be parallel to the horizontal direction.

[0020] The first antenna element 100 is a capacitive loading element that responds to radio broadcast waves, particularly for FM broadcasts (first frequency band). The first antenna element 100 is manufactured by, for example, but not limited to, pressing a metal plate or conductor plate such as a steel plate or iron plate. A conductor pattern formed on a holder 300 may be used as part of the first antenna element 100. Alternatively, the first antenna element 100 may be a film antenna or a conductor pattern formed on a circuit board. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first antenna element 100 has a main body 101, an extension 108, a protrusion 109 ( FIG. 2 ), and a connection 110 ( FIG. 2 ).

[0021] In the illustrated example, the main body 101 is a rectangular flat plate, but it may be a shape other than a rectangle, for example, a quadrilateral such as a rhombus, a polygon such as a triangle or a pentagon, a circle, an ellipse, or a shape with rounded corners. A notch or slot may also be formed in a portion of the main body 101. The main body 101 is not limited to the above example, and may have any shape that can accommodate the target frequency band. The main body 101 may be a curved plate, or may have any shape that can function as a capacitance loading element. The main body 101 has a locking hole 102 and through-holes 105 to 107.

[0022] The locking holes 102 engage with the locking protrusions 304 of the holder 300 to lock the first antenna element 100 to the holder 300. In the illustrated example, there are three locking holes 102, but the number of locking holes 102 can be changed as desired. The through holes 105 are provided to avoid interference with the locking protrusions 304 of the holder 300. The through holes 105 may have the same shape as the locking holes 102, and may have the same locking function as the locking holes 102.

[0023] The through hole 106 is provided to allow the first cover portion 305 to pass through during the process of assembling the first antenna element 100 to the holder 300 (FIG. 3 → FIG. 4). The through hole 107 is created by cutting and bending the extension portion 108 into an L-shape relative to the main body portion 101. The through holes 106 and 107 form a single L-shaped through hole when viewed from the top and bottom.

[0024] The extension portion 108 is connected to the main body portion 101 and extends downward relative to the main body portion 101. The extension portion 108 is approximately perpendicular to the left-right direction. The lower portion of the extension portion 108 serves as a contact portion for electrical connection with the electronic component unit 60. As shown in FIG. 2 , the extension portion 108 bends downward at a starting point 111 that is located inside the outer edge of the main body portion 101. However, the starting point 111 may also be located outside the outer edge of the main body portion 101. The extension portion 108 is configured to be elastically deformable like a leaf spring.

[0025] The connection portion 110 connects the starting portion 111 and the main body portion 101. As shown in the partial top view of Figure 2, a gap 112 (slit) separates the front edge of the connection portion 110 from the main body portion 101. The gap 112 prevents water droplets from passing between the front edge of the connection portion 110 and the main body portion 101.

[0026] The convex portion 109 has a shape that is convex downward. In the illustrated example, the convex portion 109 is a curved portion that is curved so as to be convex downward. The starting point 111 is located above the convex vertex 113 (shown by a black circle in FIG. 11 ) of the convex portion 109. The convex portion 109 is provided on the connecting portion 110. The convex portion 109 extends from the front end to the rear end of the connecting portion 110, and is provided over the entire range of the connecting portion 110 in the width direction. The convex portion 109 prevents water droplets traveling down the main body portion 101 from reaching the extending portion 108.

[0027] The second antenna element 200 is a capacitive loading element that responds to radio broadcast waves, particularly for AM broadcasts (for the second frequency band). The second antenna element 200 is manufactured by, for example, pressing a metal plate such as a steel plate or iron, but is not limited to this. A conductor pattern formed on a holder 300 may be used as part of the second antenna element 200. Alternatively, the second antenna element 200 may be a film antenna or a conductor pattern formed on a substrate. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the second antenna element 200 has a main body 201, an extension 208, a protrusion 209, and a connection portion 210 ( FIG. 2 ).

[0028] In the illustrated example, the main body 201 has a rectangular flat plate shape, but it may have a shape other than a rectangle, such as a quadrilateral such as a rhombus, a polygon such as a triangle or a pentagon, a circle, an ellipse, or a shape with rounded corners. A notch or a slot may also be formed in a portion of the main body 201. The main body 201 is not limited to the above example, and may have any shape that can accommodate the target frequency band. The main body 201 may also be a curved plate, or may have any shape that can function as a capacitive loading element. The main body 201 has a locking hole 202 and through holes 206 and 207.

[0029] The locking holes 202 engage with locking protrusions 304 of the holder 300 to lock the second antenna element 200 to the holder 300. In the illustrated example, there are three locking holes 202, but the number of locking holes 202 can be changed as desired.

[0030] The through hole 206 is provided to allow the second cover portion 307 to pass through during the process of assembling the second antenna element 200 to the holder 300. The through hole 207 is created by cutting and bending the extension portion 208 into an L-shape relative to the main body portion 201. The through holes 206 and 207 form a single L-shaped through hole when viewed from the top and bottom direction.

[0031] The extension portion 208 is connected to the main body portion 201 and extends downward relative to the main body portion 201. The extension portion 208 is approximately perpendicular to the left-right direction. The lower portion of the extension portion 208 serves as a contact portion for electrical connection with the electronic component unit 60. As shown in FIG. 2 , the extension portion 208 bends downward at a starting point 211 that is located inside the outer edge of the main body portion 201. However, the starting point 111 may also be located outside the outer edge of the main body portion 101. The extension portion 208 is configured to be elastically deformable like a leaf spring.

[0032] The connecting portion 210 connects the starting portion 211 and the main body portion 201. The convex portion 209 has a shape that is convex downward. In the example shown, the convex portion 209 is a curved portion that is curved so as to be convex downward. The starting portion 211 is located above the convex vertex 213 (shown by a black circle in Figure 11) of the convex portion 209. The convex portion 209 is provided on the connecting portion 210. The convex portion 209 extends from the front end to the rear end of the connecting portion 210, and is provided over the entire range of the connecting portion 210 in the width direction. The convex portion 209 prevents water droplets traveling down the main body portion 201 from reaching the extending portion 208.

[0033] The holder 300 is, for example, an insulating resin molded body, and is substantially T-shaped when viewed from the front-to-rear direction. The holder 300 includes a storage portion 301, a first mounting portion 302, a second mounting portion 303, a first cover portion 305, a first through-hole 306, a second cover portion 307, and a second through-hole 308.

[0034] The accommodation section 301 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape that opens downward, and has a space that accommodates at least a portion of the case 400. Snap fits 309 are provided on both the left and right side surfaces of the accommodation section 301. The snap fits 309 are attachment sections that attach the holder 300 from above to a structure (part of a vehicle) to which the antenna element is to be attached.

[0035] The first attachment portion 302 is the right portion of the top surface of the holder 300. The second attachment portion 303 is the left portion of the top surface of the holder 300.

[0036] In the illustrated example, four locking protrusions 304 are provided on each of the top surfaces of the first mounting portion 302 and the second mounting portion 303, but the number of locking protrusions 304 can be changed as desired. The locking protrusions 304 provided on the first mounting portion 302 engage with the locking holes 102 of the first antenna element 100 to lock the first antenna element 100 to the first mounting portion 302. The locking protrusions 304 provided on the second mounting portion 303 engage with the locking holes 202 of the second antenna element 200 to lock the second antenna element 200 to the second mounting portion 303.

[0037] The first cover portion 305 is provided on the upper surface of the first mounting portion 302. In this example, the first cover portion 305 is a plane perpendicular to the up-down direction, and is located one step higher than the upper surface of the holder 300 excluding the first cover portion 305. The rear and right edges of the first cover portion 305 are connected to the upper surface of the holder 300 (the rear and right edges of the first through-hole 306), respectively. There is a gap between the left edge of the first cover portion 305 and the upper surface of the holder 300 (the rear left edge of the first through-hole 306). Below the front edge of the first cover portion 305, the middle portion of the first through-hole 306 in the front-to-rear direction is located.

[0038] The first cover portion 305 covers the upper side of the starting point portion 111 and the upper side of the first through-hole 401 of the case 400. This prevents the starting point portion 111 and the extending portion 108 from being wetted by water droplets falling from above the holder 300, and prevents water droplets falling from above the holder 300 from passing through the first through-hole 401 and entering the case 400.

[0039] The first through-hole 306 is provided on the upper surface of the holder 300. The first through-hole 306 has a generally rectangular shape that includes the area directly below and in front of the first cover portion 305. The portion of the first through-hole 306 that is located forward of the area directly below the first cover portion 305 is provided to temporarily pass the extension portion 108 through during the process of assembling the first antenna element 100 to the holder 300 (FIG. 3 → FIG. 4). The portion of the first through-hole 306 that is located directly below the first cover portion 305 is provided to pass the extension portion 108 of the first antenna element 100 that is assembled to the holder 300, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0040] The second cover portion 307 is provided on the upper surface of the second mounting portion 303. In this example, the second cover portion 307 is a plane perpendicular to the up-down direction, and is located one step higher than the upper surface of the holder 300 excluding the second cover portion 307. The left and front edges of the second cover portion 307 are connected to the upper surface of the holder 300 (the left and front edges of the second through-hole 308), respectively. There is a gap between the left edge of the second cover portion 307 and the upper surface of the holder 300 (the rear left edge of the second through-hole 308). Below the front edge of the second cover portion 307, the middle portion of the second through-hole 308 in the front-to-rear direction is located.

[0041] The second cover portion 307 covers the upper side of the starting point portion 211 and the upper side of the second through-hole 402 of the case 400. This prevents the starting point portion 211 and the extending portion 208 from being wetted by water droplets falling from above the holder 300, and prevents water droplets falling from above the holder 300 from passing through the second through-hole 402 and entering the case 400.

[0042] The second through-hole 308 is provided on the upper surface of the holder 300. The second through-hole 308 has a substantially rectangular shape that includes the area directly below and in front of the second cover portion 307. The portion of the second through-hole 308 that is located forward of the area directly below the second cover portion 307 is provided for temporarily passing the extension portion 208 through during the process of assembling the second antenna element 200 to the holder 300. The portion of the second through-hole 308 that is located directly below the second cover portion 307 is provided for passing the extension portion 208 of the second antenna element 200 that is assembled to the holder 300 through.

[0043] In the holder 300, the first mounting portion 302 and the second mounting portion 303, the locking protrusion 304 located on the first mounting portion 302 and the locking protrusion 304 located on the second mounting portion 303, the first cover portion 305 and the second cover portion 307, and the first through hole 306 and the second through hole 308 each have a shape that is rotationally symmetrical about a predetermined axis parallel to the vertical direction of the holder 300.

[0044] The case 400 is, for example, an insulating resin molded body separate from the holder 300, and has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape that opens downward. The case 400 has an accommodation space and accommodates a circuit board 420, a coil component 421, a first terminal 430, and a second terminal 440 in its own accommodation space. The circuit board 420 and the coil component 421 are examples of electronic components. The case 400 is accommodated in the accommodation portion 301 of the holder 300. The relative positional relationship between the case 400 and the holder 300 in the front-rear and left-right directions is determined by the fit between the outside of the case 400 and the inside of the holder 300. Specifically, as shown in Figures 2, 6, 7, etc., the relative positional relationship between the case 400 and the holder 300 in the front-rear and left-right directions is determined by the engagement between a first protruding portion 407 on the right outer surface of the case 400 and a first guide portion 317 on the right inner surface of the holder 300, and by the engagement between a second protruding portion 408 on the left outer surface of the case 400 and a second guide portion 318 on the left inner surface of the holder 300. The fact that the first protruding portion 407 and the second guide portion 318 cannot be engaged with each other and / or the second protruding portion 408 and the first guide portion 317 prevents the case 400 from being erroneously assembled in a reversed state. Note that if prevention of erroneous assembly is not a consideration, the first protruding portion 407 and the second guide portion 318 may be engageable with each other and / or the second protruding portion 408 and the first guide portion 317 may be engageable with each other.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 1 , the case 400 includes a first through-hole 401 , a second through-hole 402 , a first wall portion 403 , and a second wall portion 404 .

[0046] The first through-hole 401 opens to the right of the top surface of the case 400 and is located above the first terminal 430. The extension portion 108 of the first antenna element 100 passes through the first through-hole 401 and reaches the inside of the case 400, where it comes into contact with the first terminal 430 and is electrically connected to the first terminal 430. A first wall portion 403 is provided along the periphery of the first through-hole 401. The first wall portion 403 surrounds the first through-hole 401. The first wall portion 403 prevents water droplets that fall on the top surface of the case 400 from entering the case 400 through the first through-hole 401. The convex vertex of the convex portion 109 of the first antenna element 100 is located outside the first wall portion 403. By having the convex vertex located outside the first wall portion 403, it is possible to prevent water droplets that drip from the convex vertex from entering the first through-hole 401 of the case 400.

[0047] The second through-hole 402 opens to the left of the top surface of the case 400 and is located above the second terminal 440. The extension portion 208 of the second antenna element 200 passes through the second through-hole 402 into the case 400, and contacts the second terminal 440 to be electrically connected to the second terminal 440. A second wall portion 404 is provided along the periphery of the second through-hole 402. The second wall portion 404 surrounds the second through-hole 402. The second wall portion 404 prevents water droplets that fall on the top surface of the case 400 from entering the case 400 through the second through-hole 402. The convex apex of the convex portion 209 of the second antenna element 200 is located outside the second wall portion 404. By having the convex apex located outside the second wall portion 404, water droplets that drip from the convex apex can be prevented from entering the second through-hole 402 of the case 400.

[0048] In the illustrated example, the first through-hole 401 and the second through-hole 402 are each substantially rectangular, but can be changed to any shape as long as they can pass the extensions 108 and 208 through them.

[0049] 2 , the case 400 has board screw bosses 405 and coil screw bosses 406. The board screw bosses 405 are provided for fixing the circuit board 420 and the mounting bracket 450 to the case 400. The coil screw bosses 406 are provided for fixing the coil component 421 to the case 400.

[0050] The circuit board 420 is housed and held in the case 400 in a position perpendicular to the up-down direction. The circuit board 420 is equipped with an amplifier circuit that amplifies signals received by the first antenna element 100 and the second antenna element 200, and the like.

[0051] The circuit board 420 has screw insertion holes 422 and positioning holes 424. The screw insertion holes 422 are through-holes through which board mounting screws 433 pass. In the illustrated example, there are four screw insertion holes 422, but the number of screw insertion holes 422 can be changed as desired. The positioning holes 424 are through-holes for positioning the coil component 421.

[0052] The coil component 421 is an example of an electronic component, and is an inductance element combined with the first antenna element 100. One end of the coil component 421 is electrically connected to the circuit board 420. A positioning boss 425 of the coil component 421 fits into a positioning hole 424 of the circuit board 420, and the coil component 421 is positioned on the circuit board 420. The coil component 421 is attached and fixed to the case 400 by a coil attachment screw 434 that passes through a screw insertion hole 423 of the coil component 421 and is screwed into the coil screw boss 406 of the case 400.

[0053] The first terminal 430 is fabricated by, for example, pressing a metal plate or a conductor plate such as a steel plate or iron plate. The first terminal 430 is electrically connected to the other end of the coil component 421 and is in contact with the extending portion 108 of the first antenna element 100 to be electrically connected to the extending portion 108. The portion of the first terminal 430 that contacts the extending portion 108 is configured to be elastically deformable like a leaf spring.

[0054] The second terminal 440 is produced, for example, by pressing a metal plate or a conductor plate such as a steel plate or iron. The second terminal 440 is provided on the circuit board 420 and extends upward. The lower end of the second terminal 440 is electrically connected to the circuit board 420. The upper part of the second terminal 440 is in contact with the extending portion 208 of the second antenna element 200 and is electrically connected to the extending portion 208. The portion of the second terminal 440 that is in contact with the extending portion 208 is configured to be elastically deformable like a leaf spring.

[0055] 1, 2, 7, etc., the mounting bracket 450 is produced by pressing a metal plate or a conductive plate made of, for example, steel, iron, etc. The mounting bracket 450 is a part for fixing the electronic component unit 60 to a structure (a part of a vehicle) to which the electronic component unit 60 is to be attached.

[0056] The mounting bracket 450 includes through holes 451 and 452. As shown in Fig. 7, the circuit board 420 and the mounting bracket 450 are attached and fixed to the case 400 by board mounting screws 433 that pass through the through holes 452 and the screw insertion holes 422 of the circuit board 420 and are screwed into the board screw bosses 405 of the case 400. The number of through holes 452 and board mounting screws 433 is four in the illustrated example, but can be changed to any number.

[0057] The electronic component unit 60 is attached and fixed to the structure to which it is attached by the mounting bracket 450 using a bolt (not shown) that passes through the through hole 451 and a nut that is fitted to the bolt.

[0058] 3 to 5 show the process of attaching the first antenna element 100 to the holder 300. FIG.

[0059] First, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the first antenna element 100 is set in the first mounting portion 302 of the holder 300. At this time, the rear portion of the locking hole 102 and the through-hole 105 of the first antenna element 100 are aligned with the locking protrusion 304 of the first mounting portion 302, and the through-hole 106 of the first antenna element 100 is aligned with the first cover portion 305 of the first mounting portion 302. In the process shown in Figures 3 and 4, the extension portion 108 of the first antenna element 100 passes through the first through-hole 306 and reaches the inside of the housing portion 301.

[0060] 4 and 5, the first antenna element 100 is slid rearward relative to the holder 300. This causes the narrow front portion of the locking hole 102 to engage with the locking protrusion 304, and the first antenna element 100 is locked to the first mounting portion 302. To remove the first antenna element 100 from the holder 300, simply follow the installation procedure in reverse.

[0061] Although not shown, the second antenna element 200 is also assembled to the holder 300 in the same manner as the first antenna element 100. However, while the first antenna element 100 is slid backward relative to the holder 300 in the process shown in Figures 4 and 5, the second antenna element 200 is slid forward relative to the holder 300 in the corresponding process. By configuring the two antenna elements to slide from different directions onto the first and second mounting portions 302 and 303 of the holder 300 in this manner, for example, if the main body portions of the two antenna elements have the same area, the two antenna elements can be made to have the same shape, and the antenna element attached to the first and second mounting portions 302 and 303 can be shared. However, the two antenna elements may also be configured to slide from the same direction onto the first and second mounting portions 302 and 303. In this case, the orientations of the through holes and locking holes may be adjusted as appropriate.

[0062] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the antenna element unit 50 according to embodiment 1, as seen from the lower left front side. The snap fit 309 engages with the structure to which the antenna element unit 50 is to be attached, so that the antenna element unit 50 shown in Fig. 6 is attached and fixed to the structure from above.

[0063] 7 is a perspective view of the electronic component unit 60 according to the first embodiment, as viewed from the lower left front side. In this embodiment, the electronic component unit 60 is an amplifier unit, and with the case 400 fitted into the housing portion 301 of the antenna element unit 50 shown in FIG. 6 , the electronic component unit 60 is attached and fixed to the structure to which it is attached from below using bolts (not shown) that pass through the through holes 451 and nuts that are fitted to the bolts. As a result, the electronic component unit 60 is attached to the antenna element unit 50 from the side opposite to the side to which the antenna element unit 50 is attached, and the electronic component unit 60 and the antenna element unit 50 are integrated to form the antenna device 70 shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 .

[0064] Fig. 10 is a plan view of the antenna device according to the first embodiment, and Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of Fig. 10 .

[0065] 11 , the extension portion 108 of the first antenna element 100 passes through the first through-hole 306 of the holder 300 and the first through-hole 401 of the case 400, enters the case 400, and elastically contacts the first terminal 430. Note that in FIGS. 10 and 11 , the elastic deformation of the extension portion 108 and the first terminal 430 due to the contact between the extension portion 108 and the first terminal 430 is not shown.

[0066] The first cover 305 covers a wide area above the first through-hole 401, including the first wall 403 and its surrounding area. The first antenna element 100 passes through a gap between the right edge of the first cover 305 and the upper surface of the holder 300 and enters below the first cover 305. The protrusion 109 is located below the first cover 305 and above a portion of the upper surface of the case 400 that is outside the first wall 403. The first wall 403 extends above a convex vertex 113, which is the lower end of the protrusion 109.

[0067] 11 , the extension portion 208 of the second antenna element 200 passes through the second through-hole 308 of the holder 300 and the second through-hole 402 of the case 400, enters the case 400, and elastically contacts the second terminal 440. Note that in FIGS. 10 and 11 , the elastic deformation of the extension portion 208 and the second terminal 440 due to the contact between the extension portion 208 and the second terminal 440 is not shown.

[0068] The second cover 307 covers a wide area above the second through-hole 402, including the second wall 404 and its surrounding area. The second antenna element 200 passes through a gap between the right edge of the second cover 307 and the upper surface of the holder 300 and enters below the second cover 307. The protrusion 209 is located below the second cover 307 and above a portion of the upper surface of the case 400 that is outside the second wall 404. The second wall 404 extends above the convex vertex 213, which is the lower end of the protrusion 209.

[0069] Fig. 12 is a conceptual diagram showing a combination of the antenna element unit 50 and a plurality of types of electronic component units 60A to 60D. In Fig. 12, the case 400 of the electronic component units 60A to 60D is shown in half cross section.

[0070] The antenna element unit 50 is configured to be combined selectively with electronic component units 60A to 60D to form an antenna device.

[0071] Electronic component units 60A to 60D are electronic component units corresponding to radio broadcast frequency bands. For example, electronic component unit 60A is an electronic component unit for AM / FM broadcasting for a first country and is configured similarly to electronic component unit 60 shown in FIG. 7. Electronic component unit 60B is an electronic component unit for AM / FM broadcasting for a second country and is configured similarly to electronic component unit 60A except for the inductance value of coil component 421 and the specifications of circuit board 420. FM broadcast frequency bands differ between the first and second countries. Electronic component unit 60C is an electronic component unit for FM broadcasting and is configured similarly to electronic component unit 60A except for the circuit on circuit board 420. Electronic component unit 60D is an electronic component unit for FM broadcasting and is configured similarly to electronic component unit 60A except for the absence of second terminal 440. The circuit board 420 of the electronic component units 60A and 60B includes a first circuit for the FM frequency band as the first frequency band and a second circuit for the AM frequency band as the second frequency band. The circuit board 420 of the electronic component unit 60C includes a first circuit for the FM frequency band as the first frequency band and does not include a second circuit for the AM frequency band as the second frequency band. The circuit board 420 of the electronic component unit 60D includes a first circuit for the FM frequency band as the first frequency band and may or may not include a second circuit for the AM frequency band as the second frequency band.

[0072] In this embodiment, the antenna element unit 50 and each of the electronic component units 60A to 60D are provided in an unassembled state, and are attached to the structure to which they are attached as described above and assembled together to form an antenna device.

[0073] When the antenna element unit 50 is combined with the electronic component unit 60A, it becomes an antenna device compatible with AM / FM broadcasts for the first country.

[0074] When the antenna element unit 50 is combined with the electronic component unit 60B, it becomes an antenna device compatible with AM / FM broadcasts for the second country.

[0075] When the antenna element unit 50 is combined with the electronic component unit 60C or 60D, it becomes an antenna device compatible with FM broadcasting. In this case, the antenna device does not have the function of receiving AM broadcasting, and the second antenna element 200 of the antenna element unit 50 becomes a so-called disposable antenna.

[0076] According to this embodiment, the following effects can be achieved.

[0077] (1) The first antenna element 100 has a convex portion 109 that is convex downward. Therefore, water droplets traveling along the main body 101 descend along the convex portion 109 before reaching the extending portion 108, and fall from the convex vertex 113, which is the lower end of the convex portion 109. This prevents water droplets from reaching the extending portion 108 or the circuit board 420. This prevents corrosion of the contact portion between the extending portion 108 and the first terminal 430 and the occurrence of an unintended short circuit on the circuit board 420, thereby suppressing the adverse effects of condensation on the antenna device 70. The convex portion 209 of the second antenna element 200 also achieves the same effects as the convex portion 109 of the first antenna element 100.

[0078] (2) The extension portion 108 is bent at the starting point 111, and a convex portion 109 is provided at the connection portion 110 that connects the starting point 111 and the main body portion 101. Therefore, the convex portion 109 has a shape that extends linearly so as to span between both ends of the connection portion 110 in the width direction, and can effectively block water droplets heading toward the extension portion 108. In addition, the processing of the convex portion 109 is easier than when the convex portion 109 is provided on the main body portion 101. Furthermore, when the starting point 111 is located inside the outer edge of the main body portion 101, the size of the first antenna element 100 when viewed from the top and bottom is reduced. The same can be said for the second antenna element 200 as for the first antenna element 100.

[0079] (3) The holder 300 has a first cover 305 that covers the upper side of the starting point 111 and the upper side of the first through-hole 401 of the case 400. The first cover 305 prevents water droplets falling from above the holder 300 from getting on the starting point 111 and the extending portion 108, and prevents water droplets falling from above the holder 300 from passing through the first through-hole 401 and entering the case 400. This prevents corrosion of the contact portion between the extending portion 108 and the first terminal 430 and the occurrence of an unintended short circuit on the circuit board 420, thereby suppressing the adverse effects of condensation on the antenna device 70. The second cover 307 also provides the same effects as the first cover 305.

[0080] (4) Case 400 has a first wall 403 on its outer surface (top surface) that surrounds first through-hole 401. First wall 403 prevents water droplets that fall on the top surface of case 400 from entering case 400 through first through-hole 401. This prevents corrosion of the contact portion between extension 108 and first terminal 430 and the occurrence of an unintended short circuit on circuit board 420, thereby suppressing the adverse effects of condensation on antenna device 70. Second wall 404 that surrounds second through-hole 402 also provides the same effects as first wall 403.

[0081] (5) As shown in FIG. 12 , the antenna element unit 50 is configured to be selectively combined with electronic component units 60A-60D to form an antenna device. When combined with electronic component unit 60A, it becomes an antenna device compatible with AM / FM broadcasts for a first country. When combined with electronic component unit 60B, it becomes an antenna device compatible with AM / FM broadcasts for a second country. When combined with electronic component unit 60C or 60D, it becomes an antenna device compatible with FM broadcasts for either the first or second country. That is, the antenna element unit 50 can be shared among specifications compatible with AM / FM broadcasts for a first country, AM / FM broadcasts for a second country, FM broadcasts for a first country, and FM broadcasts for a second country. Therefore, manufacturers of the antenna element unit 50 do not need to prepare separate antenna element units 50 for each specification. They can set a common product number for the antenna element unit 50 for each specification, facilitating product number management and inventory management of the antenna element unit 50. Furthermore, manufacturers of the electronic component units 60A to 60D can selectively provide the electronic component units 60A to 60D to customers who receive the antenna element unit 50, thereby eliminating the need to prepare an inventory of antenna devices that are finished products corresponding to each specification, and enabling them to flexibly respond to the specifications desired by customers.

[0082] (6) By configuring the holder 300 so that two antenna elements can be slid from different directions onto the first mounting portion 302 and the second mounting portion 303, for example, if the main body portions of the two antenna elements have the same area, the two antenna elements can be made to have the same shape, and the antenna elements attached to the first mounting portion 302 and the second mounting portion 303 can be shared.

[0083] A modification of the first embodiment will be described below.

[0084] The antenna element is not limited to an antenna for FM broadcasting or AM broadcasting, but may also be an antenna for DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting), DTV (Digital Television), telematics, or telephone. It may also be an antenna compatible with the same frequency band for MIMO communication.

[0085] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an antenna element unit in which the second antenna element 200 of the antenna element unit 50 shown in FIG. 6 is replaced with a third antenna element 250, and an electronic component unit corresponding to the antenna element unit, as viewed from the upper right front side. The third antenna element 250 is a capacitance-loading element for DAB and has the same shape as the first antenna element 100. In FIG. 13, the case 400 is shown in half cross section. A standing board 426 is provided on the circuit board 420 and extends upward. A coil is provided on the standing board 426 as an electronic component. A third terminal 427 electrically connected to the third antenna element 250 is provided on the standing board 426. The circuit board 420 includes a first circuit for the FM frequency band as the first frequency band and a second circuit for the DAB frequency band as the second frequency band. However, the first circuit and the second circuit may correspond to the same frequency band.

[0086] 14A to 14E are schematic diagrams showing examples of variations of the antenna element unit.

[0087] Fig. 14(A) shows an example in which a wide antenna element 151 and a narrow antenna element 152 are assembled to a holder 300, and corresponds to the antenna element unit 50 shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 14(B) shows an example in which two wide antenna elements 151 are assembled to a holder 300, and corresponds to the antenna element unit shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 14(C) shows an example in which only one wide antenna element 151 is assembled to a holder 300. Fig. 14(D) shows an example in which two narrow antenna elements 152 are assembled to a holder 300. Fig. 14(E) shows an example in which only one narrow antenna element 152 is assembled to a holder 300.

[0088] 15A to 15I are schematic diagrams showing examples of variations of the electronic component unit.

[0089] Fig. 15(A) shows an example in which a coil / connection terminal set 511 and a connection terminal 512 are mounted on a circuit board 420, and corresponds to the electronic component unit shown in Fig. 6. The coil / connection terminal set 511 is a combination of a coil component and a connection terminal, and corresponds to the combination of the coil component 421 and the first terminal 430 shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The connection terminal 512 corresponds to the second terminal 440 shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

[0090] Fig. 15(B) shows an example in which a coil / connection terminal set 511 and a standing board / connection terminal set 513 are mounted on a circuit board 420, and corresponds to the electronic component unit shown in Fig. 13. The standing board / connection terminal set 513 corresponds to a combination of the standing board 426 and the third terminal 427 shown in Fig. 13.

[0091] FIG. 15(C) is an example in which two coil / connection terminal sets 511 are mounted on the circuit board 420. FIG. 15(D) is an example in which only one coil / connection terminal set 511 is mounted on the circuit board 420. FIG. 15(E) is an example in which a connection terminal 512 and a standing board / connection terminal set 513 are mounted on the circuit board 420. FIG. 15(F) is an example in which two connection terminals 512 are mounted on the circuit board 420. FIG. 15(G) is an example in which only one connection terminal 512 is mounted on the circuit board 420. FIG. 15(H) is an example in which two standing board / connection terminal sets 513 are mounted on the circuit board 420. FIG. 15(I) is an example in which only one standing board / connection terminal set 513 is mounted on the circuit board 420.

[0092] Second Embodiment Fig. 16 is an exploded perspective view of an antenna device according to a second embodiment, as viewed from the upper left front side. Fig. 17 is an exploded perspective view of an antenna device according to a second embodiment, as viewed from the lower right rear side.

[0093] The attachment of the antenna device of embodiment 2 is the same as that of embodiment 1, for example, to a reinforcement. Figures 23(A) to 23(C) show a portion of a reinforcement 900 as an example of a structure to which the antenna device is attached. The antenna device of embodiment 2 will be described below, focusing on the differences from embodiment 1.

[0094] The first antenna element 500 is a component corresponding to the first antenna element 100 of the first embodiment. The first antenna element 500 is, for example, a capacitance loading element for DAB. As shown in Figures 16 and 17, the first antenna element 500 has a main body 501, an extending portion 508 (Figure 17), a convex portion 509 (Figure 17), and a connecting portion 510 (Figure 17). The extending portion 508, the convex portion 509, and the connecting portion 510 are configured and function in the same manner as the extending portion 108, the convex portion 109, and the connecting portion 110 of the first embodiment.

[0095] The main body 501 has a locking hole 502 , a rib 503 , a through-hole 507 , and through-holes 514 and 515 .

[0096] The locking holes 502 engage with locking protrusions 704 of the holder 700 to lock the first antenna element 500 to the holder 700. In the illustrated example, there are four locking holes 502, but the number of locking holes 502 can be changed as desired. The ribs 503 are provided to improve the strength of the first antenna element 500.

[0097] The through-hole 507 is formed by cutting and bending the extension portion 508 into an L-shape relative to the main body portion 501. The through-hole 507 is provided to allow the first cover portion 705 to pass through during the process of assembling the first antenna element 500 to the holder 700 (FIG. 18(A) → FIG. 18(B)). The through-holes 514 and 515 engage with the leaf spring portion 710 of the holder 700.

[0098] The second antenna element 600 is a component corresponding to the second antenna element 600 of the first embodiment. The second antenna element 600 is, for example, a capacitance loading element for AM / FM. Here, the second antenna element 600 has the same shape as the first antenna element 500, and therefore a description of the configuration of the second antenna element 600 will be omitted. Note that the second antenna element 600 may have a different shape from the first antenna element 500.

[0099] The holder 700 is a member corresponding to the holder 300 of embodiment 1. The holder 700 includes an accommodating portion 701, a first mounting portion 702, a second mounting portion 703, a first cover portion 705, a first through-hole 706, a second cover portion 707, a second through-hole 708, a leaf spring portion 710, and a boss 712 ( FIG. 17 ).

[0100] The accommodation portion 701 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape that opens downward, and forms a space that accommodates at least a portion of the case 800. Snap fits 709 ( FIG. 17 ) are provided on both the left and right side surfaces of the accommodation portion 701. The snap fits 709 are attachment portions that attach the holder 700 to the reinforcement 900 from above.

[0101] The first attachment portion 702 is the right portion of the top surface of the holder 700. The second attachment portion 703 is the left portion of the top surface of the holder 700. The first attachment portion 702 and the second attachment portion 703 are symmetrical with respect to a predetermined plane perpendicular to the left-right direction.

[0102] In the illustrated example, four locking protrusions 704 are provided on each of the top surfaces of the first mounting portion 702 and the second mounting portion 703, but the number of locking protrusions 704 can be changed as desired. The locking protrusions 704 provided on the first mounting portion 702 engage with the locking holes 502 of the first antenna element 500 to lock the first antenna element 500 to the first mounting portion 702. The locking protrusions 704 provided on the second mounting portion 703 engage with the locking holes 602 of the second antenna element 600 to lock the second antenna element 600 to the second mounting portion 703.

[0103] The first cover portion 705 is provided on the upper surface of the first mounting portion 702. In this example, the first cover portion 705 is a plane perpendicular to the up-down direction, and is located one step higher than the upper surface of the holder 700 excluding the first cover portion 705. The front, rear, and right edges of the first cover portion 705 are respectively connected to the upper surface of the holder 700 (the front, rear, and right edges of the first through-hole 706). The middle portion of the first through-hole 706 in the left-right direction is located below the left edge of the first cover portion 705. The first cover portion 705 functions in the same way as the first cover portion 305 of the first embodiment.

[0104] The first through-hole 706 is provided on the top surface of the holder 700. The first through-hole 706 has a generally rectangular shape that includes an area directly below and to the left of the first cover portion 705. The portion of the first through-hole 706 that is located to the left of the area directly below the first cover portion 705 is provided to temporarily pass the extension portion 508 through during the process of assembling the first antenna element 500 to the holder 700 (FIG. 18(A) → FIG. 18(B)). The portion of the first through-hole 706 that is located directly below the first cover portion 705 is provided to pass the extension portion 508 of the first antenna element 500 that has been assembled to the holder 700, as shown in FIG. 18(C).

[0105] The second cover portion 707 and the second through-hole 708 are configured and function in the same manner as the first cover portion 705 and the first through-hole 706, respectively.

[0106] In the illustrated example, two leaf spring portions 710 are provided on each of the upper surfaces of the first mounting portion 702 and the second mounting portion 703, but the number of leaf spring portions 710 can be changed as desired. The leaf spring portion 710 provided on the first mounting portion 702 engages with the through holes 514, 515 of the first antenna element 500. The leaf spring portion 710 provided on the second mounting portion 703 engages with the through holes 614, 615 of the second antenna element 600 to lock the second antenna element 600.

[0107] 17 , bolts 711 made of metal, for example, are integrally provided by insert molding or the like on the left and right portions of the lower part of the holder 700. The bolts 711 are fixing portions for fixing the holder 700 to the reinforcement 900.

[0108] 17, the boss 712 protrudes downward inside the accommodating portion 701. The boss 712 fits into the boss 809 of the case 800 shown in FIG.

[0109] The case 800 corresponds to the case 400 of the first embodiment. The case 800 is, for example, an insulating resin molded body separate from the holder 700 and has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape that opens downward. The case 800 forms an accommodation space and accommodates a circuit board 820, a standing board 825, a first terminal 826, a standing board 827, and a second terminal 828 in the accommodation space. The case 800 is accommodated in the accommodation portion 701 of the holder 700. The relative positional relationship between the case 800 and the holder 700 in the front-rear and left-right directions is determined by the fit between the exterior of the case 800 and the interior of the holder 700, and the fit between the boss 809 of the case 800 and the boss 712 of the holder 700. A rib 810 is provided on the top surface of the case 800 to prevent incorrect assembly. If preventing incorrect assembly is not a consideration, the rib 810 may be omitted.

[0110] As shown in FIG. 16 , the case 800 includes a first through-hole 801 , a second through-hole 802 , a first wall portion 803 , and a second wall portion 804 .

[0111] The first through hole 801 opens to the right rear portion of the top surface of the case 800 and is located above the first terminal 826. The first through hole 801 functions in the same manner as the first through hole 401 of the first embodiment. A first wall portion 803 is provided along the periphery of the first through hole 801. The first wall portion 803 is configured in the same manner as the first wall portion 403 of the first embodiment and functions in the same manner.

[0112] The second through-hole 802 opens to the front left portion of the top surface of the case 800 and is located above the second terminal 828. The second through-hole 802 functions in the same manner as the second through-hole 402 of the first embodiment. A second wall portion 804 is provided along the periphery of the second through-hole 802. The second wall portion 804 is configured in the same manner as the second wall portion 404 of the first embodiment and functions in the same manner.

[0113] 17 , the case 800 has board screw bosses 805 and positioning bosses 811. The board screw bosses 805 are provided for fixing the circuit board 820 and the mounting bracket 850 to the case 800. The positioning bosses 811 are provided for aligning the mounting bracket 850 with the case 800.

[0114] The case 800 has snap fits 812 as locking portions on both the left and right side surfaces. The snap fits 812 engage with locking portions 861 of the cover 860 to lock the cover 860 to the case 800. The case 800 has a fastening portion 813 ( FIG. 17 ) on the lower left of the rear surface that is used to fasten the cable 829 with a cable tie 864 or the like, as shown in FIG. 22 . The position of the fastening portion 813 can be changed as desired.

[0115] The circuit board 820 is housed and held in a position perpendicular to the up-down direction in the case 800. The circuit board 820 is equipped with an amplifier circuit that amplifies signals received by the first antenna element 500 and the second antenna element 600, and the like.

[0116] The circuit board 820 has screw insertion holes 822. The screw insertion holes 822 are through-holes through which board mounting screws 833 pass. In the illustrated example, there are three screw insertion holes 822, but the number of screw insertion holes 822 can be changed as desired.

[0117] Standing board 825 and standing board 827 are provided on circuit board 820, extend upward, and are arranged facing each other on the left and right sides of circuit board 820. Standing board 825 and standing board 827 are each provided with a coil as an electronic component, and are also provided with a first terminal 826 and a second terminal 828.

[0118] The first terminal 826 is a member corresponding to the first terminal 430 of the first embodiment. The first terminal 826 is electrically connected to the standing substrate 825, and is in contact with and electrically connected to the extending portion 508 of the first antenna element 500. The portion of the first terminal 826 that comes into contact with the extending portion 508 is configured to be elastically deformable like a leaf spring.

[0119] The second terminal 828 is a member corresponding to the second terminal 440 of the first embodiment. The second terminal 440 is electrically connected to the standing substrate 827, and is in contact with and electrically connected to the extending portion 608 of the second antenna element 600. The portion of the second terminal 828 that comes into contact with the extending portion 608 is configured to be elastically deformable like a leaf spring.

[0120] The cable 829 transmits the output signal of the circuit board 820 to the vehicle side. A connector 830 provided at the tip of the cable 829 is connected to a connecting portion (not shown) on the vehicle side.

[0121] The mounting bracket 850 is a member corresponding to the mounting bracket 450 of the first embodiment. The mounting bracket 850 is a part for fixing the electronic component unit 60E to the reinforcement 900.

[0122] The mounting bracket 850 includes through holes 851 to 853. The circuit board 820 and mounting bracket 850 are attached and fixed to the case 800 by board mounting screws 833 that pass through the through hole 852 and the screw insertion holes 822 of the circuit board 820 and are screwed into the board screw bosses 805 of the case 800. In the illustrated example, the number of through holes 852 and board mounting screws 833 is three, but this can be changed to any number. The mounting bracket 850 is aligned with the case 800 by the through hole 853 engaging with the positioning bosses 811 of the case 800.

[0123] 23A is inserted through the through-hole 851. The bolt 902 is provided integrally with the reinforcement 900 by welding or the like. The electronic component unit 60E is attached and fixed to the reinforcement 900 by the mounting bracket 850 using the bolt 902 that passes through the through-hole 851 and a nut (not shown) that is combined with the bolt 902.

[0124] The cover 860 is, for example, a resin molded body, and covers at least a portion of the bottom opening of the case 800. Locking portions 861 provided on the left and right portions of the cover 860 and extending upward engage with snap fits 812 of the case 800 as shown in FIG. 20 , thereby locking the cover 860 to the case 800. The cover 860 has a fastening portion 862 on the left portion of the rear edge, which is used to fasten the cable 829 with a cable tie 864 or the like as shown in FIG. 22 . The fastening portion 862 is connected in the vertical direction to the fastening portion 813 of the cable 829. The cover 860 has a temporary holding portion 863 on the underside for temporarily holding the cable 829.

[0125] 18A to 18C show the process of attaching the first antenna element 500 to the holder 700.

[0126] First, as shown in Figures 18(A) and 18(B), the first antenna element 500 is set in the first mounting portion 702 of the holder 700. At this time, the right portion of the locking hole 502 of the first antenna element 500 is aligned with the locking protrusion 704 of the first mounting portion 702, and the through hole 507 of the first antenna element 500 is aligned with the first cover portion 705 of the first mounting portion 702. At this time, the leaf spring portion 710 of the holder 700 engages with the through hole 515. Specifically, the upwardly protruding protrusion of the leaf spring portion 710 extends into the through hole 515. In the process shown in Figures 18(A) and 18(B), the extension portion 508 of the first antenna element 500 passes through the first through hole 706 and reaches the housing portion 701.

[0127] 18B and 18C , the first antenna element 500 is slid to the right relative to the holder 700. As a result, the narrow portion on the right side of the locking hole 502 engages with the locking protrusion 704, and the first antenna element 500 is locked to the first mounting portion 702. During the process of sliding the first antenna element 500 to the right relative to the holder 700, the protruding portion of the leaf spring portion 710 elastically deforms downward, passes through the portion of the main body portion 501 between the through holes 514 and 515, and engages with the through hole 514. This prevents the first antenna element 500 from slipping out to the left. In other words, the protruding portion of the leaf spring portion 710 gets caught in the portion of the main body portion 501 between the through holes 514 and 515, generating a locking force that prevents the first antenna element 500 from moving to the left. To remove the first antenna element 500 from the holder 700, the attachment procedure is reversed.

[0128] Although not shown, the second antenna element 600 is also assembled to the holder 700 in the same manner as the first antenna element 500. However, while the first antenna element 500 is slid rightward relative to the holder 700 in the steps shown in Figures 18(B) and 18(C), the second antenna element 600 is slid leftward relative to the holder 700 in the corresponding steps. By configuring the two antenna elements to slide in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction) of the holder 700 in the first mounting portion 702 and the second mounting portion 703 of the holder 700 in this manner, for example, if the main body portions of the two antenna elements have the same area, the two antenna elements can be made to have the same shape, and the antenna element attached to the first mounting portion 702 and the second mounting portion 703 can be shared. However, the two antenna elements may also be configured to slide in the same direction relative to the first mounting portion 702 and the second mounting portion 703. In this case, the orientations of the through holes and locking holes may be adjusted as appropriate.

[0129] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the antenna element unit 50E according to the second embodiment, as seen from the upper left front side. FIGS. 23A to 23C show the process of assembling the antenna element unit 50E to the reinforcement 900. In the process of assembling the antenna element unit 50E to the reinforcement 900, the lower part of the holder 700 is inserted into the through-hole 901 of the reinforcement 900 (FIG. 23A → 23B). The snap fit 709 shown in FIG. 17 engages with the through-hole 901 of the reinforcement 900 as shown in FIG. 23C. Furthermore, the bolt 711 provided on the holder 700 passes through the through-hole 903 of the reinforcement 900. The nut 904 threads onto the bolt 711, fixing the antenna element unit 50E to the reinforcement 900. As described above, the antenna element unit 50E is attached and fixed to the reinforcement 900 from above.

[0130] 20 is a perspective view of the electronic component unit 60E according to the second embodiment, viewed from the upper left front side. In the second embodiment, the electronic component unit 60E is an amplifier unit. With the case 800 fitted into the housing 701 shown in FIG. 17 , the electronic component unit 60E is attached and fixed to the reinforcement 900 from below by bolts 902 (see FIG. 23A ) passing through the through-holes 851 and nuts (not shown) mated with the bolts 902. As a result, the electronic component unit 60E is attached to the antenna element unit 50E from the side opposite the side to which the antenna element unit 50E is attached. The electronic component unit 60E and the antenna element unit 50E are integrated to form the antenna device 70E shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 . The reinforcement 900 is not shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 . 22 , the cable 829 is temporarily held by a temporary holding portion 863 of the cover 860 while being wound around the underside of the cover 860 so as not to protrude from the electronic component unit 60E in any direction. After the electronic component unit 60E is assembled to the reinforcement 900, the cable 829 is removed from the temporary holding portion 863 and connected to a connecting portion on the vehicle side (not shown).

[0131] In addition to the same effects as those of the first embodiment, the second embodiment has the following effects.

[0132] (1) The cover 860 prevents an operator from touching the circuit board 820 and the like when assembling the electronic component unit 60E to the reinforcement 900. The cover 860 also prevents dust and other particles from entering the case 800.

[0133] (2) The case 800 is smaller in size in the front-rear direction than the case 400. This makes it possible to effectively accommodate space restrictions in the front-rear direction on the vehicle side.

[0134] (3) In the case 800, the first through hole 801 is formed to be shifted rearward from the center of the case 800, and the second through hole 802 is formed to be shifted forward from the center of the case 800. This makes it possible to appropriately deal with the space constraints within the case 800 that arise when the case 800 is made smaller in the front-to-rear direction.

[0135] (4) The rib 810 is provided at the rear of the top surface of the case 800, which reduces incorrect assembly when assembling the case 800 to the reinforcement 900. In addition, the case 800 and the cover 860 are provided with fastening portions 813, 862 (FIG. 17) used to fasten the cable 829 with a cable tie 864 or the like, as shown in FIG. 22, which allows the cable 829 to be easily secured, improving assembly workability. Note that fastening devices other than the cable tie 864 may also be used.

[0136] (5) Since the boss 809 (FIG. 16) of the case 800 is fitted into the boss 712 (FIG. 17) of the holder 700, the case 800 and the holder 700 can be aligned and assembled, thereby improving assembly precision.

[0137] (6) The first antenna element 500 is assembled to the holder 700 by sliding it in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction) of the holder 700. Therefore, the through-hole 507 does not need to be L-shaped, but may be a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the left-right direction, allowing the first antenna element 500 to be made smaller. Furthermore, since there is no need to slide the first antenna element 500 in the front-rear direction relative to the holder 700, the first antenna element 500 can be suitably assembled to the holder 700 even when there are restrictions on space in the front-rear direction. The same can be said for the second antenna element 600.

[0138] (7) The ribs 503 formed on the first antenna element 500 increase the strength of the first antenna element 500. The same can be said for the second antenna element 600.

[0139] (8) The bolts 711 that fit into the through holes 903 of the reinforcement 900 shown in Figure 23 are integrally formed on the holder 700 by insert molding or the like. This makes it easy to align the holder 700 with the reinforcement 900. In addition, in combination with the mounting bracket 850, the attachment of the antenna device 70E to the reinforcement 900 becomes more secure.

[0140] (9) A temporary holding portion 863 that temporarily holds the cable 829 is provided on the underside of the cover 860. This prevents the cable 829 from protruding from the front, rear, left, or right sides of the electronic component unit 60E, and prevents the cable 829 from being pinched when assembling the electronic component unit 60E or when attaching it to the reinforcement 900. This can also be advantageously used when the length to the connection destination of the connector 830 differs depending on the vehicle to which it is attached, which is advantageous for component standardization.

[0141] Although the embodiments and modifications of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, these are merely examples of the present invention, and various other configurations can also be adopted.

[0142] According to the present specification, there are provided an antenna element, an antenna element unit, an electronic component unit, and a component set for an antenna device according to the following aspects.

[0143] (Aspect A1) An antenna element comprising: a plate-shaped main body; an extension extending downward from a starting point; and a protrusion positioned between the main body and the starting point and having a downwardly protruding shape.

[0144] According to the above-described aspect, the convex portion prevents water droplets running down the main body portion from reaching the extension portion, thereby suppressing corrosion of the contact portion.

[0145] (Aspect A2) An antenna element in which the starting point is located above the apex of the convex portion.

[0146] According to the above-described aspect, compared to when the starting point portion is located below the convex apex, it is possible to effectively prevent water droplets from reaching the starting point portion from the main body portion.

[0147] (Aspect A3) An antenna element unit including the antenna element and a holder that holds the antenna element, the holder having a cover that covers an upper portion of the starting point portion.

[0148] According to the above-described aspect, the cover portion prevents water droplets falling from above the holder from reaching the extension portion, thereby preventing corrosion of the contact portion.

[0149] (Aspect A4) An electronic component unit used in combination with an antenna element, the electronic component unit comprising: an electronic component electrically connected to the antenna element; and a case that houses the electronic component and has a through hole through which a part of the antenna element is inserted, the case having a wall portion on an outer surface that surrounds the through hole.

[0150] According to the above-described aspect, the wall portion prevents water droplets that have fallen onto the outer surface of the case from entering the amplifier case through the through-hole.

[0151] (Aspect A5) An antenna device comprising: the antenna element; a holder that holds the antenna element; and a case that houses electronic components electrically connected to the antenna element and has a through hole through which the extending portion of the antenna element is inserted, wherein the holder has a space that houses at least a portion of the case.

[0152] According to the above-described aspect, water droplets are less likely to reach the extending portion, and therefore water droplets are prevented from running down the extending portion and entering the case.

[0153] (Aspect A6) The antenna device, wherein the holder has a cover portion that covers an upper portion of the starting point portion.

[0154] According to the above-described aspect, the cover portion prevents water droplets falling from above the holder from reaching the extension portion, and prevents water droplets from entering the case via the extension portion.

[0155] (Aspect A7) The antenna device, wherein the outer surface of the case has a wall portion surrounding the through hole.

[0156] According to the above-described aspect, the wall portion prevents water droplets that have fallen onto the outer surface of the case from entering the inside of the case through the through-hole.

[0157] (Aspect A8) The antenna device, wherein the convex vertex of the convex portion of the antenna element is located outside the wall portion.

[0158] According to the above-described aspect, water droplets are prevented from falling from the convex apex through the through-hole into the case.

[0159] (Aspect B1) A method for producing an antenna element unit and an electronic component unit that can be combined with the antenna element unit, the method comprising the steps of: alternatively selecting, in accordance with a desired frequency band, from a single antenna element, an antenna element group having two or more antenna elements of different shapes, or an antenna element group having two or more antenna elements of the same shape; and assembling the selected antenna element or the antenna element group into a holder to manufacture an antenna element unit; and assembling a first electronic component group in which a pair of a coil component and a first terminal and a second terminal are mounted on a circuit board; and assembling the pair of the coil component and the first terminal, the board, and a third terminal. a third electronic component group having a set of the second terminal, and the substrate and a third terminal mounted on the circuit board; a fourth electronic component group having any one of the set of the coil component and the first terminal, the second terminal, and the set of the substrate and a third terminal mounted on the circuit board; and a fifth electronic component group having any one of a plurality of the sets of the coil component and the first terminal, a plurality of the second terminals, or a plurality of the sets of the substrate and a third terminal mounted on the circuit board, in accordance with a desired frequency band, and accommodating the fifth electronic component group in the accommodating space of the case to manufacture the electronic component unit.

[0160] According to the above-described aspect, the antenna element unit and the electronic component unit are manufactured as separate units, which allows for greater flexibility in the form in which the antenna device is provided.

[0161] (Aspect B2) An electronic component unit to be integrally combined with an antenna element unit, the electronic component unit comprising: an electronic component; and a case having a housing space for housing the electronic component, the electronic component being alternatively selected depending on a frequency band.

[0162] According to the above-described aspect, by selecting the electronic component, it is possible to select the frequency band when the electronic component unit and the antenna element unit are combined.

[0163] (Aspect B3) The electronic component unit includes a circuit board, the circuit board including a first circuit for a first frequency band and a second circuit for a second frequency band.

[0164] According to the above-described aspect, an electronic component unit and an antenna element unit can be combined to form a product compatible with a plurality of frequency bands.

[0165] (Aspect B4) The electronic component unit includes a circuit board, the circuit board including a first circuit for a first frequency band, and the electronic component unit is combined with the antenna element unit to form an antenna device compatible only with the first frequency band.

[0166] According to the above-described aspect, the electronic component unit and the antenna element unit can be combined to form a product compatible with only a single frequency band.

[0167] (Aspect B5) The electronic component unit, wherein the first circuit and the second circuit support the same frequency band.

[0168] (Aspect B6) An antenna element unit to be integrally combined with an electronic component unit, the antenna element unit comprising: an antenna element; and a holder that holds the antenna element, wherein the antenna element is electrically connected to an electronic component unit selectively selected from a plurality of the electronic component units.

[0169] According to the above-described aspect, by selecting the electronic component units to be electrically connected, it is possible to create a product that is compatible with, for example, different frequency bands.

[0170] (Aspect B7) The antenna element unit includes a first antenna element for a first frequency band and a second antenna element for a second frequency band.

[0171] According to the above-described aspect, an electronic component unit and an antenna element unit can be combined to form a product compatible with a plurality of frequency bands.

[0172] 50 Antenna element unit 60 Electronic component unit 70 Antenna device 100 First antenna element 101 Main body 108 Extension 109 Protrusion 110 Connection 111 Starting point 200 Second antenna element 201 Main body 208 Extension 209 Protrusion 210 Connection 211 Starting point 300 Holder 301 Storage section 305 First cover 307 Second cover 400 Case 401 First through hole 402 Second through hole 403 First wall 404 Second wall

Claims

1. A method for producing an antenna element unit and an electronic component unit that can be combined with said antenna element unit, comprising the steps of: alternatively selecting, in accordance with a desired frequency band, from a single antenna element, an antenna element group having two or more antenna elements of different shapes, or an antenna element group having two or more antenna elements of the same shape; and assembling the selected antenna element or antenna element group into a holder to manufacture an antenna element unit; a first electronic component group having a pair of a coil component and a first terminal and a second terminal mounted on a circuit board; a second electronic component group having the pair of a coil component and a first terminal and a pair of a substrate and a third terminal mounted on a circuit board; a third electronic component group having the pair of the second terminal and the pair of the substrate and the third terminal mounted on a circuit board; a fourth electronic component group having any one of the pair of a coil component and a first terminal, the second terminal, and the pair of the substrate and the third terminal mounted on a circuit board; and a fifth electronic component group having any one of a plurality of the pair of a coil component and a first terminal, a plurality of the second terminals, or a plurality of the pair of the substrate and the third terminal mounted on a circuit board, in accordance with a desired frequency band, and accommodating the fifth electronic component group in an accommodating space of a case to manufacture the electronic component unit.

2. An electronic component unit that is integrally combined with an antenna element unit, comprising: an electronic component; and a case having a housing space for housing the electronic component, wherein the electronic component is alternatively selected according to a frequency band.

3. The electronic component unit according to claim 2, wherein the electronic component has a circuit board, and the circuit board includes a first circuit for a first frequency band and a second circuit for a second frequency band.

4. The electronic component unit according to claim 2, wherein the electronic component has a circuit board, the circuit board includes a first circuit for a first frequency band, and when combined with the antenna element unit, forms an antenna device that is compatible only with the first frequency band.

5. The electronic component unit according to claim 3, wherein the first circuit and the second circuit correspond to the same frequency band.

6. An antenna element unit to be integrally combined with an electronic component unit, comprising: an antenna element; and a holder for holding the antenna element, wherein the antenna element is electrically connected to an electronic component unit selectively selected from a plurality of the electronic component units.

7. The antenna element unit according to claim 6, wherein the antenna element comprises a first antenna element for a first frequency band and a second antenna element for a second frequency band.

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