JP2001203520A - Antenna unit for on-vehicle communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an antenna unit that is placed at a proper position to external communication and also to a relation with other device. SOLUTION: A container section 32 of a container case 3 contains an antenna board 33, a control board 34, and a cable 35 interconnecting them or the like, and an antenna signal cable 36 connected to the control board 34 is led out externally from a back face board 31. Furthermore, the cable 36 is fitted to a back side of a main body case 21 of a display device 2 with a screw 40 through a thread hole 31a provided to the back face plate 31. Since thee display device 2 is placed on a dash board so as to place a liquid crystal display section 25 perpendicularly, the layout of the antenna unit 1 is decided relatively to the display device 2. That is, the angle of the antenna board 33 is selected and contained in the container section 32 so as to obtain proper directivity in the decided layout in the inside of the antenna unit 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an antenna unit for a communication device mounted on a vehicle to use a system such as an ICS or an ETC (automatic toll collection system on a toll road).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, GPS, VICS, ETC, and the like are known as systems for performing communication between a vehicle-mounted device and an external device to make a vehicle run more smoothly. Of the communication devices installed on the vehicle side to use these systems, the control unit is not particularly limited in its position, but the antenna unit needs to receive external radio waves etc. Or, it is usually mounted in a dashboard. Therefore, when trying to use these systems, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, a GPS unit, a VICS unit, a DSRC wireless unit, and the like are arranged on the dashboard. In addition,
The light receiving unit (optical sensor) in the case of optical communication is also included in the concept of the antenna unit here.

[0003]

However, there are many devices (for example, airbags and displays) attached around the dashboard, and it is difficult to secure a space for arranging the antenna unit so as not to obstruct them. There is a current situation. Particularly, in the case of antennas requiring directivity, an angle close to an ideal mounting angle is required from the viewpoint of appropriate reception. Therefore, it is not always possible to place the dashboard anywhere, and it is necessary to mount the dashboard at a place where an angle close to the ideal mounting angle described above can be secured. It is also possible to cope with this by providing an angle adjusting mechanism, but the mechanism becomes complicated. For these reasons, there is a risk of infringing laws and regulations, such as sticking to a windshield, and also impairs the driver's view and poses a problem in terms of safety.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an antenna unit for a vehicle-mounted communication device which is suitable for external communication and can be arranged at an appropriate position in relation to other devices.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided an antenna unit for a vehicle-mounted communication device, wherein the antenna unit is disposed around a display located near a dashboard other than the front of the display. Since the antenna unit is mounted, the antenna unit itself does not have to be mounted on the dashboard, and it is possible to meet the demand for minimizing the arrangement on the dashboard.

[0006] "Do not place on the dashboard"
However, if it is arranged around the rearview mirror, for example, the distance from the control unit which is generally arranged in the dashboard or below the seat becomes long. Then, the length of the cable connecting the antenna unit and the control unit becomes longer, and attenuation of high frequency becomes a problem. Therefore, the shorter the cable length, the better, and it can be said that the configuration of the present invention is more preferable in that respect.

[0007] For a directional antenna,
It is preferable to secure an angle close to the ideal mounting angle.
However, the shape of the dashboard differs depending on the model,
To cope with such a difference in shape, an angle adjusting mechanism had to be provided. On the other hand, in the present invention, since the display can be attached with reference to the display, an angle adjusting mechanism or the like is not required. That is, regardless of the shape of the dashboard, the display is mounted at an angle that is easy for the occupant (mainly the driver) to see, so that the display is generally arranged almost vertically. Therefore,
By using such a display as a reference, it is possible to secure an angle close to the ideal mounting angle described above without requiring an angle adjusting mechanism.

The elimination of the need for the angle adjusting mechanism is also effective in the following point. That is, if there is an angle adjusting mechanism, the mounting stay becomes large, which leads to an increase in cost. Also, the angle adjustment needs to be performed in the mounted state, and the workability is poor. Therefore, there is an effect that such an inconvenience does not occur because the angle adjusting mechanism becomes unnecessary.

Furthermore, since the antenna unit is mounted around a display arranged so as to minimize obstruction of the driver's view, the antenna unit is unlikely to obstruct the driver's view. From the viewpoint of "not obstructing the driver's view", it is preferable to mount the antenna unit on the back side of the display, as described in claim 2.

When the antenna unit is mounted on the display, an appropriate mounting position varies depending on the condition of the vehicle to be mounted. If the front window has a steep inclination, if the antenna unit is attached to the upper end of the display, the antenna unit may interfere with the window (see FIG. 5A). Therefore, in order to avoid such inconveniences, it is considered that it is often preferable to attach them to the lower end side of the display. On the other hand, when the arrangement space cannot be secured on the dashboard, it is attached to the side near the front of the dashboard (FIG. 5).
(B)). In that case, if the antenna unit is attached to the lower end of the display, the dashboard unit may interfere with the antenna unit. It is preferable to attach to the side.

[0011] Therefore, as described in the third aspect, these situations can be coped with by configuring the mounting position on the display to be adjustable in the vertical direction of the display. The display may be placed not only on the dashboard but also in the dashboard.
In this case, only the display portion of the display is exposed, but the antenna unit may be attached to the back side of the display or the like. And, in this case, the same effect is exhibited.

By the way, since the antenna unit is composed of the antenna section and the control circuit section, if both are housed in a case and the housing case is detachably attached to the display, as shown in claim 4, ,
Only necessary antenna units can be attached.
If only one can be attached, it may be replaced and attached. If two or more can be attached at the same time, it may be attached as needed.

In such a configuration, when a signal line for transmitting a reception signal from the antenna unit to the control unit side extends from the storage case to the outside, It is conceivable to fit the signal line into a groove provided on the back side of the display. In this way, a so-called “retrofitting” operation can be easily performed. Also, for example, when mounting a plurality of antenna units for in-vehicle communication devices around the display,
Only the necessary antenna unit for the on-vehicle communication device needs to be attached, and an attachment space may be secured on the display side.

Of course, instead of fitting the communication line for the antenna unit for the vehicle-mounted communication device into the groove provided on the rear side of the display, the communication line may be held by a holder provided on the rear side. Furthermore, instead of holding on the outer surface side of the display, it is also possible to pass through the inside of the display. However, in such a case, it is necessary to remove the main unit case of the display in order to pass the inside of the display. Is easy.

On the other hand, when the storage case also stores a connector, the connector is connected to a connector provided on the display side.
The received signal is transmitted through a connector and further through a signal line that the display has to communicate with another device mounted on the vehicle.
It can be sent to the control unit side. This eliminates the need to provide a separate signal line, but in this case, it is necessary to prepare connectors in advance in order to integrate the control unit with the control circuit of the display. Therefore, for example, when a plurality of antenna units for in-vehicle communication devices can be mounted around the display, connectors need to be prepared on the display side even when they are not actually used. No.

Further, the above-mentioned storage case is not used, and the control circuit unit is integrated with the control circuit of the display, and only the antenna unit is mounted around the display (for example, on the back surface). Good. However, also in this case, the control circuit section must be prepared in advance regardless of whether the antenna section is actually used.

The antenna unit only needs to be able to receive at least a signal from an external device via the windshield and to transmit a received signal to the control unit, but, of course, transmit the signal to the external device. An antenna unit for transmission and reception that also has a function may be used.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment of the present invention
It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and can take various forms within the technical scope of the present invention.

[First Embodiment] First, an antenna unit 1 for a vehicle-mounted communication device according to a first embodiment will be described. FIG.
FIG. 1A shows an antenna unit 1 for a vehicle-mounted communication device attached to a display 2.
(B) is the figure which looked at the inside from the side. FIGS. 1C, 1D, and 1E are views of the antenna unit 1 for the vehicle-mounted communication device viewed from the back, side, and front, respectively. In FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), broken portions are shown by solid lines as appropriate without showing a broken portion to show the inside of the structure.

The antenna unit 1 is, for example, a GPS or V
Antenna unit for ICS or DS for ETC
An RC antenna unit or the like. The in-vehicle communication device includes an antenna unit 1 and a control unit (not shown). The control unit is arranged in a dashboard or below a seat.

The antenna unit 1 of this embodiment is similar to that of FIG.
The storage case 3 is housed in the storage case 3 shown in (c) to (e), and the storage case 3 has a shape in which a square storage unit 32 is provided upright at the center of an oval back plate 31. An antenna board 33, a control board 34, a cable 35 connecting them, and the like are housed in the housing section 32. The antenna board 33 and the control board 34 correspond to an “antenna section” and a “control circuit section” in claims, respectively.

The antenna signal cable 36 connected to the control board 34 extends outward from the back plate 31 side. This antenna signal cable 36 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), a plurality of antenna signal lines are covered with an antenna signal cable coating. This antenna signal line corresponds to a “signal line” in the claims. A screw hole 31a is provided in a portion of the back plate 31 where the storage portion 32 is not provided upright (near both ends).

On the other hand, a space corresponding to the height of the storage section 32 of the storage case 3 is provided on the back side of the main body case 21 of the display 2. Depressed part 2 depressed by back plate 31 minutes
1a is provided. A hole 21b into which the storage portion 32 of the storage case 3 can be fitted is provided at the center of the recess 21a. The back plate 31 of the storage case 3 is held in a state where the storage portion 32 is fitted in the hole 21b.
In the portion on the side of the recess 21a corresponding to the screw hole 31a of
Again, screw holes (not shown) are provided.

Therefore, the back plate 31 is fitted into the recess 21a while the storage portion 32 is fitted into the hole 21b, and the screw 40 is screwed into the screw hole 31a on the back plate 31 and the screw hole on the recess 21a. Thus, the storage case 3 can be attached to the main body case 21, that is, the display 2.

The antenna signal cable 36 extending from the storage case thus attached is connected to the main body case 21.
Is fitted in the groove 21c formed in the groove. This groove 21c
As shown in FIG. 1F, which is an AA end view of FIG. 1A, the antenna signal cable 36 is formed to have a width slightly smaller than the diameter of the antenna signal cable 36. By pushing it into the groove 21c, it does not come off easily. In addition, if the antenna signal cable 36 is inserted into the groove 21c in this manner, the number of convex portions on the rear side of the display 2 is reduced, and the display 2 can be made almost flat.

It should be noted that the front side of the display 2
A liquid crystal display unit 25 is arranged as shown in FIG.
The control circuit 2 sandwiched between two PC boards 26
7 are arranged. A signal cable 28 for the display 2 extends from the control circuit 27.

The display 2 is mounted on the dashboard DB as shown in FIG.
Generally, since the display 2 is arranged so that the liquid crystal display unit 25 is vertical, the arrangement state of the antenna unit 1 is determined based on the arrangement state of the display 2. Therefore, inside the antenna unit 1, the antenna board 33 shown in FIG. 1 is set at an angle and housed in the housing section 32 so that appropriate directivity can be obtained in the determined arrangement state. Specifically, FIG.
As shown in (b), the antenna substrate 33 is disposed so as to face the front window side while being inclined “A ° downward from the horizontal” as an angle at which appropriate directivity can be obtained.

According to the antenna unit 1 of the present embodiment having such a configuration, it is not necessary to mount the antenna unit on the dashboard DB, and it is possible to meet the demand for minimizing the arrangement on the dashboard DB. For the directional antenna unit 1, it is preferable to secure an angle close to the ideal mounting angle. For this reason, conventionally, the dashboard DB is limited to a specific place, and in order to avoid this, an angle adjustment mechanism must be provided. On the other hand, in the case of this embodiment, since the display 2 can be mounted on the basis of the reference, an angle close to an ideal mounting angle can be ensured without an angle adjusting mechanism or the like.

Furthermore, since the antenna unit 1 is attached to the back surface of the display 2 which is originally disposed at a position where the view of the driver is not obstructed as much as possible, there is little possibility that the antenna unit 1 obstructs the view of the driver. Also, as shown in FIG. 1, the antenna unit 1 has the storage case 3 removably attached to the display 2, so that it can be attached only when necessary.
Therefore, it is possible to cope with a case where the type of the antenna unit 1 used differs depending on the user. If the antenna unit 1 is not used at all,
Only the empty storage case 3 in which nothing is stored may be attached.

Then, the storage case 3 thus attached is attached.
The antenna signal cable 36 extending from the main body case 21 is fixed by being fitted into the groove 21c of the main body case 21, so that the "retrofitting" operation can be easily performed. [Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment described above, the antenna signal cable 36 connecting the antenna unit 1 and the control unit side extends outside from the storage case 3 and is provided with the groove 21c provided on the back side of the display 2. Was fitted in. By doing so, there is an advantage that the “retrofitting” operation can be easily performed. However, the signal cable 28 for the display 2 and the antenna signal cable 36 of the antenna unit 1 are externally provided from the display 2. Becomes

Therefore, in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the antenna signal line is inserted into the signal cable 28 for the display 2 and the antenna signal cable 36 itself is eliminated. In FIG. 3, the same components as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

In the case of the antenna unit 101 of the second embodiment, the control board 34 is connected to the connector 50,
As shown in FIG. 3E, an end (connecting portion) of the connector 50 is exposed outside the storage portion 32. On the other hand, the PC board 26 in the display 2 also has a connector (not shown), and by connecting the connector 50 on the antenna unit 101 side to the connector on the display 2 side, the control board 34 of the antenna unit 101 and the control circuit 27 on the display 2 side are connected. And exchange data between them. Therefore, the signal received by the antenna unit 101 can be transmitted to the control unit (not shown) through the control circuit 27 on the display 2 and the antenna signal line in the signal cable 28.

This eliminates the need to provide a separate signal line. However, instead, a connector 50 is newly required on the antenna unit 101 side, and a connector is required on the display 2 side. Then, even when the antenna unit 101 is not actually used, the connector on the display 2 side must be prepared.

[Third Embodiment] In the first and second embodiments, the antenna units 1 and 10 are connected to the display 2.
Although the mounting position of 1 was fixed, in the third embodiment, the mounting position was made movable.

As shown in FIG. 4 (a), the antenna unit 201 of the third embodiment is housed in a housing case 203, and this housing case 203
31 has a shape in which a box-shaped storage section 232 is provided upright at the center. A screw hole 231a is provided in a portion of the mounting plate 231 where the storage portion 232 is not provided upright (near both ends), and the screw unit 25 is provided in the screw hole 231a.
0 is fitted.

As shown in FIG. 4B, which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 4A, the screw unit 250 includes a male screw 251 with a head, a nut 252, and a resin cover 253. I have. Specifically, the male screw 251 is
Screw holes 231a from the side opposite to where the
Through the nut 252 on the side opposite to the screw head 251a.
And a resin cover 253 so as to cover the screwed portion.
Is covered.

On the other hand, the rear side of the main body case 21 of the display 2 is not provided with a space as in the case of the first or second embodiment. Instead, as shown in FIG. Two engagement grooves 211 are provided in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 4B, the engagement groove 211 is expanded inside, and the male screw 251 of the screw unit 250 is formed.
When the screw head 151a is put in the expanded portion,
It does not come off in the direction perpendicular to the plate surface. In addition,
A wide opening 211a is formed at the uppermost part of the engaging groove 211 so that the screw head 151a of the male screw 251 can also be inserted therein (see FIG. 4A). can do.

When the nut 252 is screwed with the male screw 251 engaged with the engaging groove 211 in this manner, the male screw 2
51 between the screw head 151a and the nut 252.
Etc., so that the storage case 2
03 can be fixed at any place.

The mounting position of the antenna unit 201 is made variable for the following reason. For example, FIG.
As shown in (a), if the front window has a steep inclination, if the antenna unit 201 is attached to the upper end side of the display 2, there is a possibility that the antenna unit 201 and the window may interfere with each other. Therefore, in order to avoid such inconvenience, it is preferable that the display 2 is attached to the lower end side. That is,
A relatively large distance L from the upper end of the display 2
Let it be 1.

On the other hand, if it is not possible to secure a space for arranging the display 2 on the dashboard DB, FIG.
As shown in (b), the display 2 is mounted on the side near the front of the dashboard DB. In this case, if the antenna unit 201 is attached to the lower end side of the display 2, the antenna unit 201 and the dashboard DB may physically interfere with each other or cause a communication error. Therefore, in order to avoid such inconvenience, it is preferable that the display 2 is attached to the upper end side. That is, the distance from the upper end of the display 2 is set to a relatively small distance L2.

Therefore, if the configuration as in the third embodiment is adopted, the mounting position of the display 2 can be adjusted in the vertical direction of the display 2 to cope with these situations. In this embodiment, the male screw 251 and the nut 2
Although the resin cover 253 is covered so as to cover the threaded portion 52, it may be formed integrally with the nut 252.

[Others] (1) In each of the above embodiments, an example has been described in which one antenna unit 1, 101, 201 is attached to the display 2, but a plurality of antenna units 1, 101, 201 are naturally connected. You may make it attach. (2) In the above embodiment, the antenna board 33 and the control board 34 are housed in the same case. However, the control board 34 may be assembled to the display 2 side. However, in this case, even when the corresponding antenna unit is not used, the function corresponding to the control board 34 must always be prepared on the display 2 side. Further, the control board 34 can be assembled on the control box side. (1) In each of the above embodiments, the antenna units 1, 1
01 and 201 were attached to the back of the display 2,
For example, it may be the side. This is because the advantage of "not obstructing the driver's view" can be obtained as such. However, it is preferable that the rear side of the display 2 is still preferable. (4) In the first embodiment, the antenna signal cable 36 extending from the storage case 3 is
Although it is configured to fit into the main body case 21, it is also possible to pass through the inside of the main body case 21 instead of the configuration of holding the display 2 on the outer surface side. However, in that case, the main body case 2
Since work such as removing the device 1 once is required, the above-described configuration in which the display is held on the outer surface side simplifies the work if there is no problem in the mounting space.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an antenna unit according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an arrangement of a display to which the antenna unit of the first embodiment is attached.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an antenna unit according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an antenna unit according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an effect of the antenna unit of the third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 101, 201 ... antenna unit 2 ... display 3, 203 ... storage case 21 ... body case 21a ... recess 21b ... hole 21c ... groove 25 ... liquid crystal display 26 ... PC board 27 ... control circuit 28 ... signal cable 31 ... Back plate 31a Screw holes 32, 232 Storage part 33 Antenna board 34 Control board 35 Cable 36 Antenna signal cable 40 Screw 50 Connector 211 Engagement groove 211a Opening 231 Mounting plate 231a Screw Hole 250: Screw unit 251: Male screw 251a: Screw head 252: Nut 253: Resin cover DB: Dashboard

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An in-vehicle communication device mounted in a vehicle and communicating with an external device, capable of receiving at least a signal from the external device via a windshield and transmitting a received signal to a control unit. An antenna unit for a vehicle-mounted communication device, wherein the antenna unit is attached to a periphery other than the front of a display arranged near the dashboard. 2. The antenna unit for a vehicle-mounted communication device according to claim 1, wherein the antenna unit is mounted on a back side of the display. 3. The on-vehicle communication device according to claim 1, wherein an attachment position to the display is adjustable in a vertical direction of the display. Antenna unit. 4. An antenna unit for a vehicle-mounted communication device according to claim 3, wherein said antenna unit comprises an antenna unit and a control circuit unit, and a case in which both are housed is detachable from said display. An antenna unit for a vehicle-mounted communication device, wherein the antenna unit is mounted on a vehicle. 5. The antenna unit for a vehicle-mounted communication device according to claim 4, wherein a signal line for transmitting the reception signal to the control unit side extends from the storage case to the outside. Is an antenna unit for a vehicle-mounted communication device, wherein the antenna unit is fitted in a groove provided on the back side of the display. 6. The antenna unit for a vehicle-mounted communication device according to claim 4, wherein said storage case also stores a connector connectable to a connector provided on a display side, and said reception signal transmits said connector to said connector. An antenna unit for an in-vehicle communication device, wherein the antenna unit is configured to be transmitted to the control unit via a signal line that the display has for communicating with another on-vehicle device. 7. The antenna unit for a vehicle-mounted communication device according to claim 4, wherein the control circuit is integrated with a control circuit of the display. Antenna unit.