Antenna Unit Flat Rear Surface via Nested Locking Hooks
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing satellite radio broadcast receiving antenna units face a challenge in miniaturization due to the projection of locking hooks from the rear surface of the metal plate, which limits the shape and mounting area of the circuit board.
Innovation Solution
The antenna unit incorporates a first metal plate with cut and raised parts and an attaching member made of resin, featuring engaging parts such as locking hooks, hollows, or steps that securely attach to the metal plate without projecting any parts from the rear surface, allowing for a flat rear surface and unhindered circuit board placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If locking hooks are used to attach the feeding component to the metal plate, then the attaching member can be securely fixed, but the locking hooks project from the rear surface of the metal plate, limiting the circuit board mounting area
Solution Approach 1:
The locking hooks are designed to engage with cut and raised parts formed on the front surface of the metal plate, directing the engagement structure into the depth dimension rather than allowing projection from the rear surface. This dimensional reorganization allows secure attachment while maintaining a flat rear surface for circuit board mounting.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking hooks are nested within the thickness of the metal plate by engaging with cut and raised parts. The engaging parts of the attaching member fit into recesses formed by the cut and raised parts, creating a nested configuration that prevents rear surface projection while maintaining attachment strength.
2Volume of moving object
If the circuit board is located close to the rear surface of the metal plate to miniaturize the antenna unit, then the antenna unit size is reduced, but the locking hooks projected from the rear surface collide with the circuit board
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment structure is moved from the rear surface dimension to the front surface engagement dimension. By having the locking hooks engage with cut and raised parts on the front surface of the metal plate, the rear surface remains clear for circuit board placement, eliminating collision while enabling miniaturization.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional attaching members with locking hooks are used, then the feeding component can be attached to the metal plate, but the projected locking hooks require the circuit board to have limited shape and small mounting area
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement mechanism is shifted to the front surface of the metal plate through cut and raised parts. This allows the rear surface to be completely flat and adaptable to various circuit board shapes and sizes, greatly improving design flexibility while maintaining easy attachment through the engaging parts configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna unit includes a feeding component 40 and a metal plate 50 on which the feeding component 40 is mounted. The feeding component 40 has an attaching member 43 made of resin to support a feeding line against the metal plate. The metal plate 50 has a pair of cut and raised parts 51 at both ends thereof while the attaching member 43 has a pair of locking hooks 432 at both ends thereof. The locking hooks are partly inserted into the cut and raised parts and thereby the feeding component is attached to the metal plate without projecting any parts of the attaching member from a rear surface of the metal plate.