Connector system for a vehicle antenna

• US 7,918,682 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2010
• Issued: 04/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Hirai, Tomoharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; T C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Imas; Vladimir
• Application Number:
  US12/656,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20100203770A1
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• Field of Search: 439/374, 439/342, 439/916, 439/929, 343/713, 343/715, 343/906
• US Class Current: 439/374
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1278 in association with heating wires or layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/02 for antennas

Abstract

A connector system for a vehicle antenna is a system by joining a fixed connector having legs connected to a terminal of the vehicle antenna, with a movable connector that is removably connected to the fixed connector and has a cable connected to a signal receiving apparatus. A first slide mechanism is located on the fixed connector, extended along a surface where the legs touch, and the second slide mechanism, able to be fitted in the slide mechanism on the fixed connector, is located on the movable connector. By sliding the first slide mechanism and the second slide mechanism to be fitted in each other, the movable connector can be joined to the fixed connector along the surface where the connector system is installed.

Claims

1. A connector system for a vehicle antenna, the system comprising:

a first connector that is electrically connectable to a terminal of the vehicle antenna; and

a second connector that is electrically connectable to a cable for transmittance of received signals received by the vehicle antenna to a signal receiving apparatus that uses the received signals, the second connector being attachable to and removable from the first connector and being electrically connected to the first connector when attached to the first connector,

the first connector including;

legs for touching a mounting surface of the first connector so as to be electrically connected to the terminal of the vehicle antenna;

a first slide mechanism having a first sliding surface extending substantially parallel to the mounting surface; and

a body to which the legs and the first slide mechanism are provided, the body having a length extending in a first direction parallel to the mounting surface, and a width extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and parallel to the mounting surface, the length being larger than the width, and

the second connector including a second slide mechanism having a second sliding surface that is mateable with the first sliding surface, the second sliding surface extending substantially parallel to the mounting surface when mated with the first sliding surface;

a body to which the second slide mechanism is provided, the body of the second connector having a length extending in the first direction parallel to the mounting surface, and a width extending in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction and parallel to the mounting surface, the length of the second connector being larger than the width of the second connector; and

a cable extending in the first direction from the body of the second connector,

wherein the first and second connectors are configured such that the second connector is moved in a direction parallel to the mounting surface so that the first and second sliding surfaces slide relative to each other in the direction parallel to the mounting surface to mate the second sliding surface to the first sliding surface and thereby mate the second connector to the first connector.

2. The connector system for a vehicle antenna according to claim 1, wherein

the first slide mechanism is a first one of a slide protrusion and a slide groove;

and

the second slide mechanism is a second one of the slide protrusion and the slide groove.

3. The connector system for a vehicle antenna according to claim 1, wherein

the first slide mechanism is located on a surface of the first connector that faces away from the mounting surface.

4. The connector system for a vehicle antenna according to claim 1, wherein

the first and second connectors are configured such that the connector is moved in the second direction so that the first and second sliding surfaces slide relative to each other in the second direction to mate the second sliding surface to the first sliding surface.

5. The connector system for a vehicle antenna according to claim 1, wherein

the first slide mechanism and the second slide mechanism each include stopper mechanisms that are engageable with each other for preventing relative movement of the first and second connectors in a direction perpendicular to a sliding direction by which the first and second connectors slide so as to be mated with each other.

6. The connector system for a vehicle antenna according to claim 5, wherein

the stopper mechanism of the first slide mechanism is a tapered side surface in the sliding direction, and

the stopper mechanism of the second slide mechanism is a reverse-tapered side surface facing the tapered side surface.

7. The connector system for a vehicle antenna according to claim 5, wherein

the stopper mechanism of the first slide mechanism is a first one of a protrusion located on a side surface in the sliding direction and a concavity for accommodating the protrusion, and

the stopper mechanism of the second slide mechanism is a second one of the protrusion and the concavity.

8. The connector system for a vehicle antenna according to claim 1, wherein

the first connector includes an electrode electrically connected to the leg and disposed on a side of the first connector facing the second slide mechanism when the first connector is joined with the second connector, and

the second slide mechanism includes a connecting terminal that contacts the electrode when the first connector is joined with the second connector.

9. The connector system for a vehicle antenna according to claim 1, wherein

the second connector includes a circuit that processes the received signals received by the vehicle antenna.

12. The connector system for a vehicle antenna according to claim 1, wherein

the first connector and the second connector each include:

lock mechanisms for engaging with each other to hold the first connector and the second connector joined to each other when the first and second slide mechanisms are completely mated with each other.

13. The connector system for a vehicle antenna according to the claim 12, wherein

the lock mechanism of the first connector is a first one of a lock wall and a bendable arm having a lock protrusion engageable with the lock wall near a leading end of the arm,

the lock mechanism of the second connector is a second one of the lock wall and the bendable arm, and

the lock protrusion on the bendable arm:

touches the lock wall when the second connector is slid into engagement with the first connector; and

slides over and engages with the lock wall by further sliding of the second connector relative to the first connector, bending the bendable arm after the lock protrusion touches the lock wall.

14. The connector system for a vehicle antenna according to claim 13, further comprising:

at least two sets of the lock walls and the bendable arms, wherein

a base of one of the bendable arms stands from one of two side surfaces of the second connector,

an other one of the bendable arms stands from the other side surface of the second connector, and

the second connector is attachable to the first connector from either side surface of the first connector.

15. The connector system for a vehicle antenna according to claim 13, further comprising:

at least two sets of the lock walls and the bendable arms, wherein

a base of one of the bendable arms stands from one of two side surfaces of the first connector,

an other one of the bendable arms stands from the other side surface of the first connector, and

the second connector is attachable to the first connector from the either side surface of the first connector.

16. The connector system for a vehicle antenna according to claim 1, wherein

the first connector includes a guide hole in an upper surface thereof which faces away from the mounting surface,

the second connector includes a slide protrusion that protrudes from a lower surface thereof which faces the first connector, the slide protrusion sized to fit within the guide hole of the first connector, and

the first and second connectors are configured such that the second connector is moved in the first direction so that the first and second sliding surfaces slide relative to each other in the first direction to mate the second sliding surface to the first sliding surface after the slide protrusion of the second connector is inserted into the guide hole of the first connector.

10. A connector system for a vehicle antenna, the system comprising:

a first connector that is electrically connectable to a terminal of the vehicle antenna;

a second connector that is electrically connectable to a cable for transmittance of received signals received by the vehicle antenna to a signal receiving apparatus that uses the received signals, the second connector being attachable to and removable from the first connector and being electrically connected to the first connector when attached to the first connector,

the first connector including;

legs for touching a mounting surface of the first connector so as to be electrically connected to the terminal of the vehicle antenna; and

a first slide mechanism extending substantially parallel to the mounting surface,

the second connector including a second slide mechanism for sliding along an extending direction of the first slide mechanism and being mateable with the first slide mechanism; and

a circuit that processes the received signals received by the vehicle antenna; and

a removable connector for connecting and disconnecting the cable to and from an output terminal of the circuit in the second connector.

11. The connector system for a vehicle antenna according to claim 10, wherein

the removable connector includes a female connector connected to the cable, and which is attachable to and removable from a male connector connected to the output terminal.