Abstract
The invention relates to a communication system (1), comprising at least one housing (2) having a first and an additional housing part (201, 202). In the housing (2), a circuit board (10) having electronic components (11) is arranged, and outside the housing (2), at least one antenna element is arranged. The invention is characterized in that an antenna support (7) that is connectable to the housing (2) is provided, wherein the at least one antenna element (14) is arranged on the surface and/or inside the antenna support (7).
Claims
1. A communication system, comprising: a housing that has a metallic upper part with a predetermined absorptivity and a nonmetallic lower part with a absorptivity higher than that of the upper part; a circuit board with electronic components in the housing between the parts; an antenna element outside the housing; and an antenna support outside the housing, having two separate spaced-apart domes, and connectable to the housing, the antenna element on the surface of and/or within the antenna support.
2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein one of the parts has a heat sink with high thermal conductivity.
3. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein the heat sink is formed by the part.
4. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein the heat sink is a separate component and on the part.
5. The communication system according to claim 1, further comprising: a decorative cover connected to the antenna support can be connected.
6. The communication system according to claim 5, wherein the antenna support has surfaces for thermal connection to the decorative cover and/or the housing.
7. The communication system according to claim 5, further comprising: a protective cover for the antenna element on the surface of the antenna support between the decorative cover and the antenna support.
8. The communication system according to claim 7, wherein the protective cover has a surface turned toward the antenna support and/or toward the decorative cover for thermal connection to the surface of the antenna support and/or the inside of the decorative cover.
9. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a spacer in a direction of support on a side of the antenna support.
10. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the lower nonmetallic part is partially provided with a metallic coating or has a metallic inlay.
11. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the upper part carries the antenna element.
12. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the upper part has a fastening element for securing the housing to a roof of a motor vehicle with the upper part above the roof and the lower part beneath the roof.
13. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the upper part has an at least partially encircling outer peripheral edge.
14. A communication system, comprising: a housing that has a metallic upper part with a predetermined absorptivity and a nonmetallic lower part with a absorptivity higher than that of the upper part; a circuit board with electronic components in the housing between the parts; an antenna element outside the housing; and a functional element support having two separate domes, connectable to the housing, and having thermal conductivity properties.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
(1) Further embodiments of the invention from which similar advantages follow are described in the subclaims. These embodiments will be explained in greater detail below with reference to specific embodiments.
(2) Insofar as shown in detail,
(3) FIGS. 1 to 4 show the basic structure of a communication system 1 according to the invention,
(4) FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of this communication system 1, and
(5) FIGS. 6 to 11 show various embodiments of such a communication system 1.
SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(6) According to FIG. 1, the communication system 1 consists of a housing 2 and, optionally, a decorative cover 3. What is not shown is a body part of a vehicle, in particular a vehicle roof, in on which the communication system 1 is mounted and attached. Although not shown, according to FIG. 1, the housing 2 is beneath the body part and the decorative cover 3, if present, is above the body part and fixed in their respective positions.
(7) FIG. 2 shows the upper housing part 201 alone, it being possible but not necessary for a first antenna element 4, particularly a GPS patch or SAT services such as SDARS or the like, to be provided for example in the middle. In the illustrated embodiment according to FIG. 2, an attachment region around this antenna element 4 is shown that will be described later in connection with an antenna support according to the invention that is not yet shown here. Reference numeral 5 denotes contact surfaces for spacers of any kind, which will also be described.
(8) FIG. 3 shows additional elements of the communication system 1, namely for example adhesive pads 6 that have been adhered to the support surfaces 5. In this state of the housing 2, the adhesive pads 6 still have protective films on their upper faces that are then removed before the housing 2 is pressed from below against the lower face of the body part.
(9) The antenna support 7 according to the invention is also shown in FIG. 3. In this embodiment, the antenna support 7 has two spaced-apart domes 8, with it also being possible for only a single dome or more than two domes 8 to be present. Likewise, the at least one dome is almost completely closed, but it can alternatively also have openings, a grid structure, or the like in order to ensure thorough movement of the air in the electronics box and under the decorative cover. In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, the optional antenna element 4 is between the two domes 8, with each of the domes 8 being passed through a recess 9 in the upper housing part 201. If no such antenna element 4 is present, the connecting bottom plate is embodied so as to be continuous without an opening, in which case it is also conceivable for recesses to be present in the same number in which antenna elements are provided in this intermediate region. Moreover, additional recesses, openings, and the like can be provided when other things are to be passed through this bottom plate connecting the two domes. Connectors, cables, or the like come to mind in this regard.
(10) FIG. 4 shows the same assembled state of the housing 2 with the antenna support 7 and mounted circuit board and lower housing part.
(11) FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the communication system 1 that consists of several components. The housing 2 consists of two housing parts, namely an upper housing part 201 and a lower housing part 202. The upper housing part 201 is made of a material with a low absorptivity for thermal radiation coming through the body part in the installed state and should simultaneously have high heat conduction. Aluminum, preferably bare aluminum, is given especially preferable consideration here. The use of such an electrically conductive material for the upper housing part 201 also has the advantage that, in particular, the above-mentioned GPS patch or also a patch antenna for other satellite services and the like forms a metallic base, particularly a ground surface, for the antenna element 4.
(12) Moreover, the lower housing part 202 is also made of an electrically conductive material such as aluminum but is preferably made of a thermally conductive plastic. A circuit board 10 is between these two housing parts 201, 202 that, when shown schematically, holds a plurality of electronic components 11. These electronic components 11 can be only on one side of the circuit board 10, or also on both sides of the circuit board 10. Connectors 12 are provided for the supplying power and/or signals and of outputting signals to and from the communication system 1. Moreover, a power supply 13 can but need not be integrated into the housing 2. As a rule, power is supplied via the connector 12 to the communication system 1 elsewhere, for example via the electrical system of the vehicle. However, if this power supply fails (in a collision, for example) but an emergency call needs to be placed, the power supply 13 acts as the power supply of the communication system 1.
(13) The above-described adhesive pads 6 and the antenna support 7 are also shown. In addition, the optional decorative cover 3 and the optional antenna element 4 are shown.
(14) Additional details regarding the design of the antenna elements that are on the antenna support 7 in accordance with the invention and the means for improving the thermal management of the communication system 1 are described in greater detail below in the following FIGS. 6 to 11 on the basis of the communication system 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, optionally with specific modifications.
(15) FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of a first embodiment based on the communication system 1 according to FIGS. 1 to 5. By way of example, heat sources 15, which are electronic components 11 in particular, are shown on each side of the circuit board 10. It is necessary during operation of the communication system 1 to dissipate the heat of these heat sources 15 to the outside, preferably by heat conduction or heat spreading. Provision is made for this purpose that the housing, particularly the associated housing part 201 and/or 202, has at least one heat sink with high thermal conductivity. A high emissivity for the heat radiation toward the region of the cooler passenger compartment is crucial here. Targeted heat dissipation of the heat generated by the heat sources 15 occurs via these heat sinks 16 that, for example, form a separate component or have a defined shape and/or are a coating on the respective housing part. This targeted dissipation of heat occurs either as a result of the fact that the heat is dissipated by the heat sink 16 to the outside and/or that the heat from the heat sink 16 is conducted to the surrounding area of the associated housing part and dispelled through it to the outside. The heat sink shown to the left as viewed in FIG. 6 is formed by the housing part 202 and provided with a for example anodized coating. The heat sink shown to the right as viewed in FIG. 6 is a separate component, for example an aluminum sheet (optionally with an anodized outer surface), having the illustrated shape and is in the vicinity of a recess in this housing part 202. It is important here that the respective heat sinks be in an area in which a heat source 15 is located. The surface areas of heat source 15 and heat sink 16 are either equal to or smaller or larger than each other, with equal area ratios or a surface area of heat sink 16 that is greater than the surface area of heat source 15 to ensure good heat dissipation.
(16) In FIG. 6, reference 17 designates heat exposure, particularly solar radiation. This heat exposure 17 is transmitted via a body part 180, here the vehicle roof, into the underlying interior of the vehicle. It can be seen very clearly here that the upper housing part 201 is spaced below the lower face of the body part 180, with insulation created by this intervening air gap, so that no heat absorption at all or only slight additional heat absorption occurs as a result of the heat radiation via the material with a low absorptivity/emissivity.
(17) The body part 180 has an opening 181 through which the antenna support 7, which is fastened to the housing 2, particularly the upper housing part 201, projects. geometric cross section of the antenna support 7 could be dimensioned on one side such that its outer peripheral surface is flush with and seals the border of the body opening 181. In such a case, it would not be necessary to mount the illustrated decorative cover 3. If the decorative cover 3 were not mounted, however, the antenna elements on the antenna support 7 (not shown here) would have to be also protected by a for example coating.
(18) FIG. 7 shows a schematic embodiment of the antenna support 7. Again, this antenna support 7 has the two spaced-apart domes 8 on the surface of which are mounted the at least one antenna element 14, here a separate antenna element 14 on each dome 8. In addition, the antenna support 7 is provided with surfaces 19 for thermal connection. The surface shown on dome 8 to the left when viewing FIG. 7 is an area that is used for the thermal connection of the antenna support 7 to the decorative cover 3, if present. The surface 19 for thermal connection between the two domes 8 is used for thermal connection and thus for heat transfer from the interior of the housing 2 to the outside or to other elements.
(19) Reference 20 denotes at least one feedthrough hole that can be used, for example, to pass an antenna element that is arranged with its antenna base point on the circuit board 10 with its geometric extension to the outside. In addition or as an alternative, cables, plug connectors, or the like can be passed through these feedthroughs 20. The converse embodiment is also conceivable in which the antenna is mounted on the housing through the housing cover and then fixed to the circuit board at the antenna base.
(20) Reference 21 denotes fastening formations that are shown schematically and with which the antenna support 7 can be arranged and fixed to the housing 2. Alternatively, the antenna support 7 can also be glued, caulked, riveted, welded, or otherwise fixed to the housing 2. This means that the antenna support 7 is either detachably or non-detachably connected to the housing (in the latter case, only detachable by damage or destruction).
(21) As a second element, FIG. 8 shows a protective cover 22 that corresponds roughly in shape to the shape of the antenna support 7. This optional protective cover 22 can be slipped over the antenna support 7 and fixed in its position, particularly in order to protect the antenna elements 14, but also the surfaces 19 for thermal connection, from external influences. If the antenna element 4 is located between the two domes 8 of the antenna support 7, the protective cover 22 can have a corresponding recess 23. Regardless of whether the antenna element 4 is present or not, the protective cover 22 can have at least one or more recesses 23 through which cables, connectors, or the like can be fed to the outside. In particular, such a recess 23 is present when an antenna element is on the circuit board 10 and is fed out of the housing 2 into the region between the two domes 8 and thus the region between the two covers of the protective cover 22 for these two domes 8. Insofar as there is a protective cover 22, it can also have surfaces 19 for thermal connection. In an especially advantageous manner, these surfaces 19 of the protective cover 22 cover at least the surfaces 19 on the domes 8 (covering). This effectively ensures that, when the protective cover is present and beneath the decorative cover 3 (insofar as it is present), effective heat transfer occurs from the interior of the housing 2 and from the interior of the antenna support 7 to the outside.
(22) FIG. 9 shows that an electrically conductive body part 182 is provided that, however, has no opening. Here, too, the designs and advantages of the housing 2 according to the invention can be realized by attenuating in particular the heat exposure 17 by the spacing between the surface of the housing part 201 and the lower face of the body part 182. In addition, as was already described, the heat input of the heat sources 15, particularly of the electronic components 11, can be selectively reduced by means of the heat sinks 16.
(23) FIG. 10 shows a similar embodiment in which a body part 183 is shown without opening, with this body part 183 being electrically nonconductive, however. This makes it permeable to high-frequency radiation, so that at least one antenna element (the antenna element 4 from the preceding figures is shown here) is on the upper side of the upper housing part 201.
(24) Finally, FIG. 11 shows an example of the fact that the antenna support 7, not shown here, can have on its surface a plurality of antenna elements of identical or different appearance. An antenna element (shown to the left in FIG. 11), which is designed for a mobile network, for example, is provided on one of the domes of the antenna support (not shown). The antenna element 14 shown to the right when viewing FIG. 11 is also an antenna element for a mobile service. The so-called MIMO principle, in which multiple transmitting and receiving antennas are used simultaneously for one service, is essential, for example. Moreover, the optional antenna element 4 is shown that is located between the two domes 8 of the antenna support 7 (not shown). This antenna element 4, if present, is on the upper side of the upper housing part 201, for which purpose this housing part 201 has an elevation in the area in which the antenna element 4 is to be located (see FIG. 6, for example).
(25) In addition, another antenna element 24 is shown that for example can be a V2-X antenna, for example. This approximately rod-shaped antenna element 24 extends from the circuit board 10 through one of the passages 20 in the antenna support 7 and, if present, through a corresponding passage in the protective cover 2 into the free area between the two domes 8 of the antenna support 7.
(26) Particularly in looking at FIG. 11, it can be seen that the antenna elements 14 have a planar design and, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, are on the surface of the antenna support 7, particularly on the domes 8 thereof. These planar antenna elements 14 are metal foils, for example, that can be arranged, for example glued, printed, sprayed on, or the like, on the surface of the antenna support 7. They can be guided by an extension of the metal foil, by connectors, by cables, by crimp contacts, or by a spring contact system, or the like, toward the point of connection on the circuit board 10, so that they are contacted with the associated electronic components 11 and the high-frequency signals received via the antenna elements 14 can be further processed by the electronic components 11. Alternatively or in addition, the reverse transmission path is also possible, namely where high-frequency signals are emitted by the associated electronic components 11 via the antenna elements 14.
(27) It is generally important for the functioning of the communication system 11 illustrated and described herein that, if the body part is made of an electrically conductive material, the upper housing part 201 is connected to the body part for the purpose of EMC shielding. However, this connection between the housing part 201 and the associated body part for the purpose of making electrical contact must be made very small in order to ensure the previously described advantageous spacing between the upper housing part and the body part and also to minimize the contact surface of the heat conduction.
(28) The at least one antenna element can also be embodied in the usual form as an antenna rod.
(29) With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, it is also important to point out that not only in this embodiment, but also in other implementations of the communication system, the housing 2, particularly the upper housing part 201, has at least one fastening element 25 and/or at least one partially, preferably completely encircling edge 26. In the embodiment according to FIGS. 2 and 3, the at least one fastening element 25 is arranged so as to project from the side edge of the housing 2 and comprises a through hole for a fastening formation, for example a screw. The fastening formations fix the housing 2 at a suitable location on the body part. The fastening formations can come into operative connection with the body part, for example, but also with a dome, particularly the decorative cover. In this embodiment, a fastening element 25 is provided on one longitudinal side of the housing 2, with two fastening elements 25 being provided on the opposite longitudinal side. This embodiment is exemplary, so that at least one fastening element 25 can be provided on each longitudinal side, optionally on the front side as well. The distinctive feature of the illustrated fasteners 25 is the fact that a kind of tab projects from the housing 2, this tab being arranged with reinforcing ribs on the longitudinal side of the housing 2. In addition to the at least one reinforcing rib, a through hole is provided through which the screw can be passed, for example. In looking at FIGS. 2 and 3, it is clear that a raised area is provided above the protruding tab around the through hole. By means of this raised area, the housing 2 is brought to rest flatly against the lower face of the body part, while the remaining surface of the housing 2 is spaced slightly apart from the lower face of the body part. This spacing is a result of the height of the peripheral border of the protruding tab around the fastening formations 25 and corresponds approximately to the height of the adhesive pad 6. In addition or as an alternative, the top of the housing 2 is provided with an at least partially, preferably fully peripheral edge 26. With regard to the height of the peripheral edge, exactly the same applies to the peripheral edge in the region of the fastening formations 25. This configuration of the peripheral edge in the vicinity of the fastening formations 25 and/or the peripheral edge 26 exploits the fact that it is even cooler in this region, particularly in the region approximately beneath the peripheral edge of the decorative cover 3, than in the region outside peripheral border 26 (or the peripheral border of the decorative cover 3), so that this connection of the housing 2, particularly the upper housing part 201, is ideal for heat dissipation.
