EP3117481B1 - Antenna module for motor vehicle - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to the field of transmission / reception antennas for a motor vehicle and more particularly to the attachment of these antennas.

Motor vehicles are equipped with at least one antenna to allow the transmission and reception of data between the vehicle and a source or a receiver external to the vehicle. For example, radio antennas make it possible to capture the radio waves relayed by the antennas in order to broadcast, via the vehicle's radio station, a broadcast program.

Antennas have evolved with technological advances and nowadays make it possible to capture, by radio waves, information sent by satellite, in particular geolocation information to enable navigation assistance.

The antennas include transmitters / receivers and then ensure communication between the vehicle and stations external to the vehicle.

We know, for example, of the document EP 1 903 632 , a motor vehicle antenna module comprising an external box, equipped with external radiofrequency interfaces for communication with a remote station, and an internal box, equipped with an internal transmitter / receiver for communication with an on-board station in the vehicle, the housings being assembled on either side of a vehicle body element.

This antenna has some drawbacks.

Indeed, this antenna is complex and long to install on a vehicle. The inner housing is attached to the body element by means of a multitude of fasteners which involves an equal number of holes in the body element. Thus, the mounting time of the antenna module is increased and the mounting cost is also increased.

In addition, it is not possible to retrofit. Retrofitting is the operation consisting in installing an antenna module on an already marketed vehicle or vice versa, in mounting a radio antenna (comprising internal and external boxes of dimensions significantly lower) instead of a module as described in the document EP 1 903 632 .

Indeed, if an antenna module has to be replaced by a radio antenna, the holes for the passage of the fastening elements must be closed in order to prevent water infiltration inside the vehicle. However, in the case of an antenna mounted on the roof, the sealing of the holes becomes impossible or extremely expensive. We also know from the document EP1441413 , an antenna device mounted on a vehicle body. A distal end of an antenna element is attached to an antenna base. The antenna base is provided with a projection of electrically conductive screw bonded to the antenna element and inserted into a hole formed in the vehicle body, and a first insulating element mounted on an outer face of the vehicle body for electrically isolate the screw projection from the vehicle body. A conductive washer is disposed inside the vehicle body such that the screw projection is inserted therein. We also know from the document WO 2010/112011 a vehicle having a vehicle upper face, the vehicle comprising an interior space and an exterior zone, which are at least partially separated from each other by the vehicle upper face. An exterior antenna being positioned on the upper face of the vehicle so as to be located substantially in the exterior area, such that a transmission or reception process takes place in the exterior area, a signal processing unit being positioned below the upper face of the vehicle, so as to be located in the interior space of the vehicle.

A first objective is to provide an antenna module that is easy to mount on a motor vehicle.

A second objective is to provide an easy-to-maintain antenna module.

A third objective is to provide an antenna module making it possible to retrofit from or to a simpler radio-type antenna.

• le boîtier externe comprend un pion, en saillie, ayant au moins une section conductrice raccordée aux interfaces radiofréquences externes, et, à une extrémité libre, une section filetée ;
• le boîtier interne comprend une broche complémentaire de la section conductrice du pion, cette broche étant raccordée à l'émetteur-récepteur interne ;
• le module comprend un écrou vissé sur la section filetée du pion du boîtier externe, par-dessus la broche, pour solidariser le boîtier interne au boîtier externe, la section conductrice comprenant des conducteurs venant au contact de bornes solidaires de la broche pour assurer la continuité électrique entre le boîtier externe et le boîtier interne.

To this end, it is proposed first of all a motor vehicle antenna module comprising an external box, equipped with external radio frequency interfaces for communication with remote stations, and an internal box, equipped with transceivers. for communication with on-board and remote stations of the vehicle, the units being assembled on either side of a bodywork element of the vehicle, in which

• the outer casing comprises a protruding stud having at least one conductive section connected to the external radio frequency interfaces, and, at a free end, a threaded section;
• the internal housing comprises a pin complementary to the conductive section of the pin, this pin being connected to the internal transceiver;
• the module comprises a nut screwed onto the threaded section of the pin of the outer case, over the pin, to secure the inner case to the outer case, the conductive section comprising conductors coming into contact with terminals secured to the pin to ensure continuity electrical connection between the outer box and the inner box.

Such an antenna module is easily adaptable to a vehicle already on the market and provided with a radio antenna. Indeed, to fix the antenna module, it will not be necessary to enlarge the hole of the already existing bodywork element, only part of the pin having to pass through the bodywork element, the pin serving as well for the mechanical and electrical connection between the external housing and the internal housing of the antenna module.

• la section conductrice comprend au moins quatre conducteurs et la broche comprend au moins quatre bornes ;
• le boîtier externe comprend une coque externe et un support externe venant fermer la coque externe, le pion et les interfaces radiofréquences étant montés sur le support externe ;
• le support externe comprend un perçage pour permettre le passage du pion ;
• le support externe comprend un trou détrompeur ;
• le pion comprend un ergot apte à venir se loger dans le trou détrompeur du support externe pour assurer le positionnement du pion sur le support externe ;
• le boîtier interne comprend une cavité, ouverte sur l'extérieur du boîtier interne, dans laquelle vient se loger l'écrou ;
• la broche est montée dans le boîtier interne entre une paroi supérieure du boîtier interne et une paroi de fond de la cavité.

Various additional features can be provided, alone or in combination:

• the conductive section includes at least four conductors and the pin includes at least four terminals;
• the outer casing comprises an outer shell and an outer support closing the outer shell, the pin and the radiofrequency interfaces being mounted on the outer support;
• the external support comprises a bore to allow the passage of the pin;
• the external support includes a key hole;
• the pin comprises a pin suitable for being housed in the keying hole of the external support to ensure the positioning of the pin on the external support;
• the internal housing comprises a cavity, open to the outside of the internal housing, in which the nut is housed;
• the pin is mounted in the inner case between a top wall of the inner case and a bottom wall of the cavity.

Secondly, a motor vehicle is proposed comprising an antenna module as presented above.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective par l'arrière d'un véhicule automobile comprenant un module d'antenne ;
• la figure 2 est une vue éclatée du module d'antenne ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe du module d'antenne assemblé, comprenant des médaillons de détail.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly and in a concrete manner on reading the following description of embodiments, which is given with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is a perspective view from the rear of a motor vehicle comprising an antenna module;
• the figure 2 is an exploded view of the antenna module;
• the figure 3 is a sectional view of the assembled antenna module, including detail insets.

On the figure 1 is shown a motor vehicle 1 comprising an antenna module 2 allowing communication between a station 3 on board the vehicle, on the one hand, and a remote station 4 on the other hand.

By remote station 4 is meant a relay or any other transmission and reception point distinct from the vehicle 1, the remote station 4 possibly being fixed (radio building or relay antenna for example) or mobile (transmission vehicle for example).

By on- board station 3 is meant an on-board computer, a navigation system, or a computer or several mobile devices owned by the occupants of the vehicle for example, housed in the vehicle 1 and having an indirect interaction (in the case of the computer) or direct (in the case of the navigation system or on-board computer) with an occupant of the vehicle 1.

The antenna module 2 comprises an external box 5 , equipped with 6 external radio-frequency interfaces for communication with the remote station 4 , and an internal box 7 , equipped with transceivers 8 for communication with on-board stations 3 and remote from the vehicle 1.

For the sake of clarity, only an external radio frequency interface 6 is shown in the figures.

The boxes 5, 7 are assembled on either side of a bodywork element 9 of the vehicle 1, and, in the embodiment shown in the figures, on either side of a roof sheet. However, in the case of a convertible-type vehicle 1 , the antenna module 2 could be installed on a boot lid or on a wing top of the vehicle 1.

• le boîtier 5 externe comprend un pion 10, en saillie, ayant au moins une section 11 conductrice raccordée à l'interface radiofréquence 6 externe, et, à une extrémité libre, une section 12 filetée ;
• le boîtier 7 interne comprend une broche 13 complémentaire de la section 11 conductrice du pion 10, cette broche 13 étant raccordée à l'émetteur-récepteur 8 interne, et
• le module 2 comprend un écrou 14 vissé sur la section 12 filetée du pion 10 du boîtier 5 externe, par-dessus la broche 13, pour solidariser le boîtier 7 interne au boîtier 5 externe.

As seen on figures 2 and 3 :

• the outer housing 5 comprises a pin 10, projecting, having at least one conductive section 11 connected to the external radio frequency interface 6 , and, at one free end, a threaded section 12 ;
• the internal housing 7 comprises a pin 13 complementary to the conductive section 11 of the pin 10, this pin 13 being connected to the internal transceiver 8 , and
• the module 2 comprises a nut 14 screwed onto the threaded section 12 of the pin 10 of the outer housing 5 , over the pin 13, to secure the internal housing 7 to the outer housing 5 .

The connection of the pin 10 to the external radiofrequency interface 6 and of the pin 13 to the internal transceiver 8 is made by means of electric cables or electric sheets, however it could be achieved by a wireless link.

According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the pin 10 is a part of revolution comprising an upper part 15 of annular shape, an intermediate part 16 (represented by a honeycomb hatching on the figure 3 ) of conical shape carrying the conductive section 11 , located under the upper part 15 , and a lower part 17 , located under the intermediate part 16 , forming the free end comprising the threaded section 12 .

The pin 10 further comprises at least one lug 18 projecting from the upper annular part 15 in the direction of the lower part 17 . This lug 18 is used in particular, as will be explained below, to ensure the correct positioning of the pin 10 in the outer housing 5 .

According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the outer housing 5 comprises an outer shell 19 and a support 20 external closing the outer shell 19 , the pin 10 and the transmitter / receiver being mounted on the external support 20 .

On the figure 3 , we note that the outer support 20 closes the outer shell 19 from below thereof, that is to say that the outer support 20 is housed inside the outer shell 19 to the right of an edge 21 end thereof.

The external support 20 comprises a bore 22 to allow the passage of the pin 10 and a keying hole capable of receiving the pin 18 of the pin 10 to ensure the positioning of the pin 10 on the external support 20 (or by any other type of indexing , by clipping, buttoning or screwing).

According to the embodiment shown in the figures, and particularly visible in the figure 2 , the external support 20 comprises two keying holes 23 , the pin 10 then comprising two lugs 18.

To ensure electrical continuity between the outer casing 5 and the inner casing 7 , the conductive section 11 comprises conductors 24 coming into contact with terminals 25 integral with the pin 13.

More particularly, the conductive section 11 comprises four conductors 24 and the pin 13 comprises four terminals 25.

According to one embodiment, the conductors 24 and the terminals 25 are formed by tracks having a noble metal substrate (under layer of copper / nickel with silver or gold to guarantee good electrical contact), integral with respectively of the conductive section 11 of the pin 10 and of a frustoconical part of the pin 13.

In this embodiment, the terminals 25 have a width greater than that of the conductors 24 so as to prevent a slight defect in the orientation of the pin 10 during the assembly of the antenna module 2 .

The internal housing 7 also comprises a cavity 26 open to the outside of the internal housing 7 , in which the nut 14 is housed . This cavity 26 is of substantially circular shape and comprises an internal diameter large enough to allow passage. a tool - such as a socket wrench for example, to access the nut 14.

The pin 13 is mounted in the inner housing 7 between an upper wall 27 of the inner housing 7 and a bottom wall 28 of the cavity 26. Thus, the pin 13 is locked in its position so that the terminals 25 are oriented with respect to the internal housing 7 and with respect to the external housing 5 , the orientation of the external housing 5 and of the internal housing 7 being defined by compared to the body element 9 .

According to an embodiment not shown in the drawings, the outer casing 5 can be provided with a lug projecting from a lower face of the support 20, this lug being housed in a hole made on the body element 9 for prevent rotation of the outer housing 5 relative to the body member 9 .

• monter le pion 10 sur le support 20 externe pré-équipé de l'émetteur-récepteur 6 externe, de sorte que la partie 16 intermédiaire du pion 10 vienne dans le perçage 22 du support 20 externe et que les ergots 18 du pion 10 viennent dans les trous 23 détrompeurs du support 20 externe, puis raccorder le pion 10 à l'interface radiofréquence 6 externe ;
• assembler la coque 19 externe et le support 20 externe de sorte à former le boîtier 5 externe ;
• percer l'élément 9 de carrosserie (cette étape pouvant être réalisée durant la fabrication du véhicule 1) ;
• monter le boîtier 5 externe sur l'élément 9 de carrosserie de sorte que le pion 10 vienne dans le perçage de l'élément 9 de carrosserie ;
• monter le boîtier 7 interne sur l'élément 9 de carrosserie de sorte que les conducteurs 24 du pion 10 viennent en contact avec les bornes 25 de la broche 13 du boîtier 7 interne et que la section 12 filetée du pion 10 vienne dans la cavité 26 du boîtier 7 interne ;
• visser l'écrou 14 sur la section 12 filetée du pion de sorte à solidariser le boîtier 7 interne et le boîtier 5 externe entre eux et sur l'élément 9 de carrosserie du véhicule 1.

For the assembly of antenna module 2 on vehicle 1, an operator follows the following procedure:

• mount the pin 10 on the external support 20 pre-equipped with the external transceiver 6 , so that the intermediate part 16 of the pin 10 comes into the hole 22 of the external support 20 and the pins 18 of the pin 10 come into the keying holes 23 of the external support 20 , then connect the pin 10 to the external radiofrequency interface 6 ;
• assembling the outer shell 19 and the outer support 20 so as to form the outer casing 5 ;
• pierce the bodywork element 9 (this step can be carried out during the manufacture of the vehicle 1 );
• mounting the outer casing 5 on the body element 9 so that the pin 10 comes into the bore of the body element 9 ;
• mount the internal housing 7 on the body element 9 so that the conductors 24 of the pin 10 come into contact with the terminals 25 of the pin 13 of the internal housing 7 and that the threaded section 12 of the pin 10 comes into the cavity 26 of the internal housing 7 ;
• Screw the nut 14 on the threaded section 12 of the pin so as to secure the internal housing 7 and the external housing 5 to each other and to the body element 9 of the vehicle 1.

• facilité de montage, l'opérateur n'ayant qu'à assembler le boîtier 5 externe puis à assembler le boîtier 5 externe et le boîtier 7 interne sur l'élément 9 de carrosserie au moyen d'un unique écrou 14 ;
• facilité de maintenance, en cas de panne ou de casse d'un élément du module 2 d'antenne, il n'est nécessaire de remplacer que l'un des boîtiers 5, 7 sans avoir à changer l'autre, ce qui permet, en outre, de limiter les coûts de maintenance ;
• possibilité de rétrofit, le rétrofit consistant à implanter un module 2 d'antenne, tel qu'il vient d'être décrit, sur un véhicule 1 déjà commercialisé ou le remplacement d'un module 2 d'antenne, tel qu'il vient d'être décrit, par une antenne radio, cette possibilité étant accordée par le fait que les véhicules 1 déjà commercialisés possèdent un trou de fixation d'une antenne radio, ce trou étant identique à celui nécessaire pour le passage du pion 10 à travers l'élément 9 de carrosserie.

The antenna module 2 which has just been described has many advantages, including:

• ease of assembly, the operator only having to assemble the outer box 5 and then assemble the outer box 5 and the box 7 internal on the body element 9 by means of a single nut 14 ;
• ease of maintenance, in the event of failure or breakage of an element of antenna module 2 , it is only necessary to replace one of the boxes 5, 7 without having to change the other, which allows, in addition, to limit maintenance costs;
• possibility of retrofitting, the retrofit consisting in installing an antenna module 2 , as has just been described, on a vehicle 1 already marketed or the replacement of an antenna module 2 , as just described 'be described by a radio antenna, this possibility being granted by the fact that the vehicles 1 already marketed have a hole for fixing a radio antenna, this hole being identical to that necessary for the passage of the pin 10 through the body element 9 .

Claims (9)

1. Antenna module (2) for a motor vehicle (1) comprising an external housing (5), equipped with external radio frequency interfaces (6) for communication with remote stations (4), and an internal housing (7), equipped with transceivers (8) for communication with stations (3) on board and remote from the vehicle (1), the housings (5, 7) being assembled on either side of a bodywork element (9) of the vehicle (1), the orientation of the external housing (5) and the internal housing (7) being defined with respect to the bodywork element (9), wherein :

   the external housing (5) comprises a projecting pin (10) having at least one conductive section (11) connected to the external radio frequency interfaces (6), and, at a free end, a threaded section (12);

   the internal housing (7) comprises a pin (13) complementary to the conductive section (11) of the pin (10), this pin (13) being connected to the internal transceiver (8);

   the module (2) comprises a nut (14) screwed onto the threaded section (12) of the pin (10) of the external housing (5), over the pin (13), to secure the internal housing (7) to the external housing (5),

   The module being characterized in that the conductive section (11) comprises conductors (24) coming into contact with terminals (25) integral with the pin (13) to ensure electrical continuity between the external housing (5) and the internal housing (7).
2. Module (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the conductive section (11) comprises at least four conductors (24) and the pin (13) comprises at least four terminals (25).
3. Module (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the external housing (5) comprises an outer shell (19) and an outer support (20) closing the outer shell (19), the pin (10) and the radio frequency interfaces being mounted on the outer support (20).
4. Module (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that the external support (20) comprises a hole (22) to allow the passage of the pin (10).
5. A module (2) according to any one of claims 3 to 4 characterized in that the external support (20) comprises a hole (23) for coding.
6. Module (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that the pin (10) comprises a lug (18) capable of being housed in the coding hole (23) of the external support (20) to ensure the positioning of the pin (10) on the external support (20).
7. Module (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the internal housing (7) comprises a cavity (26), open to the outside of the internal housing (7), in which the nut (14) is housed.
8. Module (2) according to claim 7, characterized in that the spindle (13) is mounted in the internal housing (7) between an upper wall (27) of the internal housing (7) and a bottom wall (28) of the cavity (26).
9. A motor vehicle (1) comprising an antenna module (2) according to any one of the foregoing claims.

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