Antenna device and radio wave receiving system using such device

• US 7,075,490 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2004
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd. (MinebeaMitsumi Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd. (MinebeaMitsumi Inc.)
• Inventors: Noro, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan
• Application Number:
  US10/867,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20050068236A1
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/702, 343/713, 343/841, 343/872
• US Class Current: 343/713
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1271 for mounting on windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3291 mounted in or on other locations inside the vehicle or vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 23/00 Antennas with active circuits or circuit elements integrated within them or attached to them

Abstract

An antenna device suitably provided in a vehicle is provided with low cost. A receiving module is fixed in the internal space formed by a pair of case parts. The receiving module includes a dielectric substrate, an antenna element provided on one main surface of the dielectric substrate, a ground plate provided on the other main surface of the dielectric substrate, and a circuit board provided on the backside of the main surface having the dielectric substrate at the ground plate, and a shield case that shields the circuit board. The ground plate has an extension extending parallel to the antenna element from the outer peripheries of said dielectric substrate and the circuit board, and the extension is supported in the pair of the case parts, so that the receiving module is fixed in the internal space of the pair of case parts.

Claims

1. An antenna device, comprising:

an antenna module, receiving a radio wave and comprising;

a ground plate, extending in a first direction;

a substrate, comprising an antenna element extending in the first direction and mounted on the ground plate; and

a circuit board, mounted on the ground plate;

an upper case and a lower case coupled with each other to define an internal space for accommodating the antenna module such that the ground plate is pinched by a first projection extended from an inner surface of the upper case and a second projection extended from an inner surface of the lower case.

2. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is comprised of a dielectric material.

3. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the ground plate is comprised of a conductive material.

4. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the antenna module comprises a pin, electrically connecting the antenna element and the ground plate, which is inserted into a hole formed in the substrate.

5. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein said ground plane extends in a direction parallel to said antenna element and beyond outer peripheries of said substrate and said circuit board.

6. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the antenna module is further comprised of a shield case that shields said circuit board.

7. A radio wave receiving system, comprising a plurality of antenna devices, said antenna devices each comprising:

an antenna module, receiving a radio wave and comprising;

a ground plate, extending in a first direction;

a substrate, comprising an antenna element extending in the first direction and mounted on the ground plate; and

a circuit board, mounted on the ground plate;

an upper case and a lower case coupled with each other to define an internal space for accommodating the antenna module such that the ground plate is pinched by the upper case and the lower case,

wherein each of the plurality of antenna devices is attached on an inner surface of a windowpane of a vehicle.

8. The radio wave receiving system according to claim 7, wherein the radio received by each of the antenna devices is processed by a diversity method.

9. The radio wave receiving system according to claim 8, wherein the plural antenna devices includes:

a first antenna device, attached to an inner surface of a front windowpane; and

a second device, attached to an inner surface of a rear windowpane.