Vehicle Antenna Assembly Sealing With Plug-Filled Housing Passage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antenna designs for automotive vehicles are costly due to the need for intricate shrink-wrapping to protect against environmental factors, which is expensive and not adaptable to multiple antenna designs.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a housing with a passage for the antenna element, where the antenna is coupled with a plug and O-ring to seal the circuit board, allowing for a cost-effective assembly that accommodates various antenna designs while maintaining environmental protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If shrink-wrapping is used to protect the antenna from environmental factors, then protection reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive custom shrink-wrapping with a disposable foam plug that is inserted into the housing passage to seal the antenna assembly. The foam plug provides adequate environmental protection at a fraction of the cost of intricate shrink-wrapping, especially for disposable or short-lived antenna applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the protection approach from external shrink-wrapping to internal foam filling. By inserting foam material into the housing passage around the antenna element, the protection mechanism shifts from a external conformal layer to an internal bulk material that fills the annular space, providing sealing and protection.
2Reliability
If custom shrink-wrapping is used for each antenna design, then protection reliability is improved, but adaptability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a universal foam plug and housing passage design that can accommodate multiple antenna element configurations. The housing with its passage and the foam plug create a standardized protection system that works with various antenna designs, eliminating the need for custom shrink-wrapping for each antenna type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the protection function into distinct components: the housing structure with passage, the foam plug material, and the antenna element. This segmentation allows the protection system (housing and foam) to be independent of the specific antenna design, enabling adaptability across multiple antenna configurations.
3Ease of manufacture
If foam plug is used to fill the annular volume, then manufacturing cost decreases, but sealing effectiveness may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite construction where the housing provides structural protection and the foam plug provides sealing and environmental protection. The combination of rigid housing material and flexible foam material creates an effective sealed assembly that protects the antenna elements while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies foam material specifically in the annular volume around the antenna element within the housing passage, providing localized sealing where it is most needed. The foam fills the gap between the antenna element and housing, creating a seal at the critical interface without requiring protection of the entire antenna assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle, an antenna assembly of the vehicle, and a method of assembling the antenna is disclosed. The vehicle includes a housing having a passage formed therethrough. A circuit board is disposed within the housing. An antenna element is coupled to the circuit board and passes through the passage. A plug fills an annular volume of the passage between the antenna element and the housing.