Mirror device with antenna

• US 7,573,428 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2006
• Issued: 08/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Murakami Corporation
• Original Assignee: Murakami Corporation
• Inventors: Sato, Hidenori, Nakayama, Takeshi, Inoue, Jinichi, Muramatsu, Masahiko, Nagao, Mitsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, TRINH VO
• Application Number:
  US11/415,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20070024512A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,197 Days
• Field of Search: 343/711, 343/713
• US Class Current: 343/711
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1261 with antennae
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3266 using the mirror of the vehicle

Abstract

In a mirror device with an antenna of the present invention the antenna is placed in a mirror housing where a mirror configured to reflect a rear of a vehicle is attached, a grounding portion at least part of which is composed of a conductive material is provided in the mirror housing, and the antenna is electrically connected to the conductive material of the grounding portion.

Claims

1. A mirror device with an antenna comprising:

a mirror base fixed on a vehicle;

a mirror housing rotatably provided at a shaft vertically provided at the mirror base wherein a mirror configured to reflect a rear of the vehicle is attached;

a motor provided in the mirror housing and configured to rotate the mirror housing around an axial direction of the shaft; and

the antenna placed in the mirror housing,

wherein a grounding case that covers the motor from outside and at least part of which is composed of a conductive material is provided in the mirror housing, and the antenna is electrically connected to the conductive material of the grounding case.

2. The mirror device with the antenna according to claim 1, wherein the conductive material is a plate composed of a metal material and the grounding case is formed with the plate.

3. The mirror device with the antenna according to claim 2, wherein the plate is formed with a copper plate.

4. The mirror device with the antenna according to claim 3, wherein the grounding case comprises a side portion configured to surround a periphery of the motor from outside and a lid portion configured to close an upper end of the side portion, wherein the antenna is placed and fixed on an upper face of the lid portion of the grounding case.

5. The mirror device with the antenna according to claim 2, wherein the grounding case comprises a side portion configured to surround a periphery of the motor from outside and a lid portion configured to close an upper end of the side portion, wherein the antenna is placed and fixed on an upper face of the lid portion of the grounding case.

6. The mirror device with the antenna according to claim 5, wherein wiring led out from the antenna is connected to a tuner for the antenna mounted on the vehicle through a through hole formed with penetrating inside of the shaft in an axial direction thereof.

7. The mirror device with the antenna according to claim 1, wherein the conductive material is a plate of which a surface of a resin material is plated with a metal material, and the grounding case is formed with the plate.

8. The mirror device with the antenna according to claim 7, wherein the grounding case comprises a side portion configured to surround a periphery of the motor from outside and a lid portion configured to close an upper end of the side portion, wherein the antenna is placed and fixed on an upper face of the lid portion of the grounding case.

9. The mirror device with the antenna according to claim 1, wherein the grounding case comprises a side portion configured to surround a periphery of the motor from outside and a lid portion configured to close an upper end of the side portion, wherein the antenna is placed and fixed on an upper face of the lid portion of the grounding case.

10. The mirror device with the antenna according to claim 1, wherein wiring led out from the antenna is connected to a tuner for the antenna mounted on the vehicle through a through hole formed with penetrating inside of the shaft in an axial direction thereof.

11. A mirror device with an antenna comprising:

a mirror base fixed on a vehicle;

a mirror housing rotatably provided at a shaft vertically provided at the mirror base wherein a mirror configured to reflect a rear of the vehicle is attached;

a motor provided in the mirror housing and configured to rotate the mirror housing around an axial direction of the shaft; and

the antenna placed in the mirror housing,

wherein a grounding case comprising a side portion configured to surround a periphery of the motor from outside and a lid portion configured to close an upper end of the side portion are provided in the mirror housing, an antenna bracket that is composed of a metal material or of which a surface of a resin material is plated with the metal material is fixed on an upper face of the lid portion of the grounding case, the antenna is placed on the antenna bracket, and the antenna bracket and the antenna are electrically connected.

12. The mirror device with the antenna according to claim 11, wherein the antenna bracket is an approximately rectangular flat plate having an area not less than about 1750 mm².

13. The mirror device with the antenna according to claim 12, wherein at least part of the grounding case is formed with a conductive material, and the conductive material and the antenna bracket are electrically connected.

14. The mirror device with the antenna according to claim 11, wherein at least part of the grounding case is formed with a conductive material, and the conductive material and the antenna bracket are electrically connected.