Vehicle Diagnostic Antenna Spatial Arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication devices for motor vehicle diagnostic systems face a conflict between achieving a compact design and optimizing mobile radio antenna transmission and reception characteristics, while also being usable across different vehicle types.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves arranging a printed circuit board perpendicularly to the connection pins in the housing and positioning the mobile radio antenna on the opposite end region, with the antennas placed on the side of the printed circuit board, allowing for optimized reception and transmission properties while maintaining a compact housing design. This includes distributing electronic components across parallel printed circuit boards and using a trapezoidal outer contour for the housing to minimize protrusion beyond the connector plug.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the mobile communication antenna is arranged at the end area of the housing opposite the connection pins, then the transmission and reception characteristics are optimized, but the device complexity increases due to the specific spatial arrangement requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensional arrangement by positioning the mobile communication antenna at the end area of the housing opposite the connection pins, utilizing the three-dimensional space efficiently. This spatial configuration optimizes antenna radiation patterns and signal transmission characteristics while maintaining a compact overall device structure suitable for vehicle installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is segmented into distinct functional zones: the connection pin area for electrical interfaces, the circuit board area for processing electronics, and the end area for the mobile communication antenna. This segmentation allows each component to be optimally positioned for its specific function while minimizing interference between systems.
2Length of stationary object
If the circuit board is arranged perpendicular to the connection areas of the pins, then the housing height is reduced for compact design, but the area available for antenna arrangement is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit board is oriented perpendicular to the connection pin areas, transitioning from a planar arrangement to a three-dimensional configuration. This vertical arrangement minimizes the housing height while the antenna is positioned in the horizontal plane at the end area, effectively utilizing available space in different dimensions to resolve the area constraint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested arrangement where the circuit board is positioned within the housing volume in a perpendicular orientation, and the mobile communication antenna is arranged in the remaining space at the end area. This nested configuration allows compact integration of multiple components with different spatial requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a communication device (10; 10a) for a diagnostic system of a motor vehicle, comprising a housing (11), which has a housing section (12) that can be connected to a vehicle-side mating connector and that has connection pins (16), at least one circuit carrier in the form of a circuit board (21, 22) for the arrangement of electronic components, a first antenna (25) designed as a mobile radio antenna, and a second antenna (26) designed as a navigation antenna. According to the invention, the at least one circuit board (21, 22) extends perpendicularly to connection regions (17) of the connection pins (16) facing the mating connector, that the two antennas (25, 26) are arranged on the side of the at least one circuit board (21, 22) facing away from the connection pins (16), and the first antenna (25) is arranged with a first transmitting and receiving surface (28) at an end region (30) of the housing (11) lying opposite the connection pins (16).