Antenna device

• US 7,265,725 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2006
• Issued: 09/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kojima, Hiroaki, Nakajima, Nana
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh; Trinh Vo
• Application Number:
  US11/385,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20060214861A1
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 343/713
• US Class Current: 343/713
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3266 using the mirror of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/40 Element having extended radiating surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/42 with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength

Abstract

A cutout portion through which one end side of a U-shaped portion of the antenna passes is cut deeper than a preset passing position where the U-shaped portion passes through the cutout portion. Further, an open dimension of a through hole through which the other end side of the U-shaped portion passes is substantially twice an outer diameter dimension of the U-shaped portion. When the U-shaped portion is passed through the through hole at the preset passing position, the U-shaped portion passes through the substantial center of the through hole. When error arises in the retention position of the antenna and the fixing position of the base plate, the U-shaped portion is displaced inside the cutout portion and the through hole, and the above error is absorbed.

Claims

1. An antenna device comprising:

an antenna including a body portion that transmits or receives radio waves and a rod-like connecting portion that is contiguous with the body portion; and

a base plate disposed with an electrical circuit on at least one of its surface and undersurface,

wherein a penetrating portion through which the connecting portion passes is formed in the base plate in the thickness direction of the base plate,

the penetrating portion has an open dimension that is larger than an outer diameter dimension of the connecting portion along a direction moving toward and away from the body portion, and

the connecting portion passed through the penetrating portion is electrically connected to the electrical circuit by solder at the surface or the undersurface of the base plate.

2. The antenna device of claim 1, further comprising a case that internally houses both the base plate and the antenna and includes a positioning portion that engages with and positions the antenna.

3. The antenna device of claim 1, wherein

the connecting portion includes a site that is bent or curved in a U-shape opening in the thickness direction of the base plate, with the connecting portion being contiguous with the body portion at one end side of the site, the base plate includes a cutout portion that opens at the body portion side of the outer peripheral portion of the base plate and penetrates the thickness direction of the base plate, with the cutout portion having a dimension along the direction moving toward and away from the body portion that is sufficiently larger than the outer diameter dimension of the connecting portion, and with the one end side of the site passing through the cutout portion, and a through hole that penetrates the thickness direction of the base plate and through which the other end side of the site passes from the undersurface side, with the through hole having an open dimension from the one end to the other end of the site that is sufficiently larger than the outer diameter dimension of the connecting portion, and the penetrating portion includes the through hole.

4. The antenna device of claim 1, wherein the open dimension of the penetrating portion is substantially twice the outer diameter dimension of the connecting portion.

5. The antenna device of claim 1, wherein the connecting portion includes a site that is bent or curved substantially perpendicular to the direction moving toward and away from the body portion.

6. The antenna device of claim 2, wherein the site of the case housing the base plate is filled with urethane resin.

7. The antenna device of claim 3, wherein the open dimension of the through hole is substantially twice the outer diameter dimension of the connecting portion.

8. An antenna device comprising:

an antenna including

a body portion that transmits or receives radio waves, and

a rod-like connecting portion that extends in a predetermined direction from the body portion, with the connecting portion including a curved site that is curved at the side opposite from the body portion side; and

a base plate on which an electrical circuit is disposed and in which is formed a through hole penetrated by an end portion of the curved site of the connecting portion, with the end portion being electrically connected to the electrical circuit by solder,

wherein the through hole is a long hole having a major axis in the predetermined direction, and

the through hole is penetrated by the end portion such that a significant clearance is disposed between an inner wall of the through hole in the predetermined direction and the end portion of the connecting portion penetrating the through hole.

9. The antenna device of claim 8, wherein the curved site has a substantial U-shape.

10. The antenna device of claim 8, wherein the curved site has a substantial U-shape, the base plate includes a cutout portion that opens at a body portion side end surface and extends in the predetermined direction, and the curved site penetrates the cutout portion such that the cutout portion has a significant clearance between its inner wall surface in the predetermined direction and the curved site penetrating the inside of the cutout portion.

11. The antenna device of claim 8, further comprising a case that internally houses both the base plate and the antenna and includes a positioning portion that engages with and positions the antenna.

12. The antenna device of claim 11, wherein the site of the case housing the base plate is filled with urethane resin.