JP2009296108A - On-vehicle antenna - Google Patents

Abstract

An in-vehicle antenna that can be mounted compactly without using a bracket while ensuring good visibility of an indicator in any mounting state.
A case 2 in which one surface and the other surface are respectively flat surfaces for bonding, a connection cable 4 protruding from one side surface of the case 2, and a side surface opposite to the connection cable 4 are provided. A first window portion 5a that emits light from the LED 7 in the case 2 and a light beam from the LED 7 that is provided on one of the planes so as to be perpendicular to the first window portion 5a. And a second window portion 5b that radiates the light.
[Selection] Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle antenna that can be directly attached to a windshield or a dashboard of a vehicle and can visually recognize a light beam from a light source that lights in a predetermined state in any attachment state.

  As is well known, an electronic toll collection system (hereinafter referred to as “ETC”) has been proposed as a measure to alleviate the traffic congestion of vehicles when paying tolls on toll roads. In this ETC, information signals are transmitted and received wirelessly between the ETC antenna installed at the gate of the toll gate and the ETC on-board unit mounted on the vehicle, and the toll fee is settled by electronic money or the like. .

  The ETC on-board device is operated by the passenger because the passenger performs the removal and installation of the IC card, which is a management medium for electronic money, and the input setting of necessary information during the toll payment process. It is desirable to install in an easy-to-use place. Specifically, when the ETC on-board unit is installed in the center console where other devices are concentrated and can be operated comfortably from either the driver's seat or the passenger seat, the operability can be dramatically improved. it can.

  However, when the ETC in-vehicle device is installed in the center console, it is not possible to sufficiently inform the driver of the processing status. For example, if an indicator or the like is provided so that the processing status is displayed and the driver is notified, the center console is removed from the driver's field of view while traveling, so that the processing status cannot be sufficiently notified to the driver. Therefore, in recent years, notifying means such as an indicator is provided in an antenna for on-board ETC (on-vehicle antenna) that is installed separately from the main body of the on-board ETC to achieve both operability and informing.

For example, in Patent Document 1 below, a window pasted state that is pasted on a windshield and an on-dash attached state that is attached to a dashboard by a bracket are possible, and an indicator is an LED disposed in a case and a window pasted state. A first radiating surface portion facing the rear side of the passenger compartment and a second radiating surface portion facing the rear side of the passenger compartment with the on-dash attached, receiving light from the LED, and emitting light from the first radiating surface portion and the second radiating surface portion to the outside The lens has a field-of-view range in which the LED can be visually recognized through the first radiation surface portion larger than the field-of-view range in which the LED can be visually recognized through the second radiation surface portion, and radiates from the entire first radiation surface portion. -Mounted antenna formed in a shape such that the amount of light from the LED to be emitted is larger than the amount of light from the LED radiated from the entire second radiation surface portion It has been disclosed.
That is, the driver visually recognizes the LED through the first radiation surface portion in the window pasted state, and visually recognizes the LED through the second radiation surface portion of the lens in the on-dash attachment state. In this case, although the visual field range of the first radiation surface portion is set larger than the visual field range of the second radiation surface portion, the light amount radiated from the entire first radiation surface portion is the light amount radiated from the entire second radiation surface portion. Therefore, the indicator can be reliably visually recognized even when the window is pasted.
JP 2006-157777 A

  However, in the one disclosed in Patent Document 1, since a bracket as an attachment is used for the dashboard in order to be in an on-dash mounting state, the vehicle-mounted antenna (unit) is increased in size and the number of parts is increased. There was a problem of inviting up.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and its purpose is to be able to mount the indicator compactly without using a bracket while ensuring good visibility of the indicator in any mounting state. The object is to provide an in-vehicle antenna capable of reducing the cost by reducing the number of points.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following means.
As a first solution for an in-vehicle antenna, a main body in which one surface and the other surface are flat surfaces for bonding, a connection cable protruding from one side surface of the main body, and a side opposite to the connection cable A first window portion that is provided on a side surface of the main body and emits light from a light source in the main body, and the light source is provided on any one of the planes so as to be in a vertical positional relationship with the first window portion. And a second window that radiates light from the second window.

  Further, as a second solving means relating to the in-vehicle antenna, in the first solving means relating to the in-vehicle antenna, one of the bonding planes is inclined with respect to the other. adopt.

  Moreover, as a 3rd solution means which concerns on a vehicle-mounted antenna, in the 1st or 2nd solution means which concerns on the said vehicle-mounted antenna, a said 1st window part and a 2nd window part are respectively via light guide means. A means of radiating light from the light source is adopted.

  Further, as a fourth solving means related to the in-vehicle antenna, in any one of the first to third solving means related to the in-vehicle antenna, the connection cable is connected to a main body of the ETC on-vehicle device. Adopt the means to do.

  According to the vehicle-mounted antenna according to the present invention, the vehicle-mounted antenna can be directly mounted with a double-sided tape or the like without using a bracket in either a window pasted state or an on-dash mounted state by selecting a bonding plane. (Unit) can be downsized and cost can be reduced. In addition, since the first window portion and the second window portion corresponding to each mounting state are provided, the occupant must visually recognize the light radiation from the light source through the window portion corresponding to each mounting state. Can do.

In addition, when one of the bonding planes is inclined with respect to the other, the antenna circuit board in the main body can be directed in the best possible direction (for example, diagonally upper front of the vehicle), and can be transmitted and received. Sensitivity can be increased.
Further, in the case of emitting light from the light source via the light guide means, light can be emitted from one light source to two window portions that are opened apart in different directions.
Further, when the connection cable is connected to the main body of the ETC on-vehicle device, the ETC quality can be improved and the reliability can be improved.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
1 is an upper side view of an in-vehicle antenna 1 showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view, FIG. 3 is a lower side view, FIG. 4 is a right side view, FIG. 5 is a rear view, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a use (attachment) state diagram, FIG. 8 is a use (attachment) state diagram different from FIG. 7, and FIG. 9 is an ETC circuit configuration diagram.

  1 to 6, an in-vehicle antenna 1 constitutes a part of an ETC on-vehicle device, and is connected to an on-vehicle device main body (ETC on-vehicle device main body) 10 described later by a coaxial cable 11 (FIG. 7 to FIG. 6). 9). The in-vehicle antenna 1 is configured by housing a circuit board 3 to which an antenna element is connected in a case (main body) 2 made of a synthetic resin (see FIGS. 6, 8, and 9).

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the case 2 has a mouth / neck portion 2b on the upper side surface of the flat casing-like main body portion 2a, and is connected to one end portion of the circuit board 3 from the mouth / neck portion 2b. The connected cable 4 is led out over a predetermined length, and the above-described coaxial cable 11 can be connected to the distal end portion thereof.

  In addition, the case 2 has a structure in which a halved part is fitted to the front (front surface) side and the back (back surface) side that are marked with “ETC”. The circuit board 3 described above is carried by the main body 2a on the back surface (back surface) side, and the back surface (back surface) of the main body portion 2a serves as an information signal transmission / reception surface, and depending on the mounting state of the in-vehicle antenna 1 It also serves as a mounting surface (adhesive surface).

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the front surface (front surface) of the main body 2 a is formed with an inclined surface 2 c that gradually increases toward the lower surface, and depending on the mounting state of the in-vehicle antenna 1. (Adhesive surface). Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, a first window 5a is formed in the lower surface of the main body 2a on the front (front) side, and the front (front) lower portion of the main body 2a. The second window portion 5b is formed in an opening so as to be perpendicular to the first window portion 5a.
In the figure, the first window 5a is formed across the front (front) side of the main body 2a to increase the opening area in a different direction (see FIG. 2). It is not necessary to have an opening formed only on the lower surface of the main body 2a. Further, the second window portion 5b is formed on the straight surface 2d (see FIG. 6) of the recessed portion formed in consideration of the design effect at the front (surface) lower portion of the main body portion 2a. It is not necessary to provide the part.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 6, a part of a single light guide plate (light guide means) 6 is exposed in each of the first window portion 5a and the second window portion 5b. The light guide plate 6 receives light from an LED (light source) 7 connected to the circuit board 3 and guides the light to the first window 5a and the second window 5b. .

Moreover, the vehicle-mounted antenna 1 has a circuit configuration as shown in FIG. 9 between the vehicle-mounted device body 10 described above. That is, the vehicle-mounted device main body 10 is installed at a gate of a toll gate via a vehicle-mounted antenna 1 and a reader / writer 13 that reads and writes information with respect to an IC (ETC) card 12 that stores electronic money information. A transmission / reception unit 14 that performs modulation / demodulation operations to perform wireless transmission / reception using high-frequency information signals such as millimeter waves and microwaves with an ETC antenna, and a one-chip microcomputer that controls the operations of these reader / writer 13 and transmission / reception unit 14 , Abbreviated as “μCOM”).
Note that the μCOM 15 has a function of generating a notification signal for notifying normality and abnormality of the wireless transmission / reception operation of the information signal by the transmission / reception unit 14 operating under the control of the μCOM 15. From the LED driver 16 separately provided in the vehicle-mounted device main body 10, it is output at a frequency lower than that of millimeter waves or microwaves.

  The transmitter / receiver 14 and the LED driver 16 are connected to the coaxial cable 11.

  On the other hand, the vehicle-mounted antenna 1 includes the circuit board 3 and the LED 7 for confirmation that notifies the normal execution of the wireless transmission / reception operation of the information signal by the transmission / reception unit 14 of the vehicle-mounted device body 10 as described above. .

  The in-vehicle antenna 1 and the confirmation LED 7 are connected to a coaxial cable 11.

  Therefore, in this ETC on-board device, the LED 7 is turned on when the IC card 12 is normally authenticated, and is turned off when the authentication is abnormal, and the LED 7 is turned on when communication with an ETC antenna (not shown) installed at the toll gate is normal. It turns off due to an abnormality.

  The vehicle-mounted antenna 1 configured in this manner is directly attached to the dashboard 30 of the vehicle, for example, as shown in FIG. That is, the main body 2a is oriented so that the back (back) side of the main body 2a, which is the transmission / reception surface of the information signal in the case 2, faces upward, and the neck and neck 2b leading out the connection cable 4 is directed forward of the vehicle. The inclined surface 2c side is attached to the dashboard 30 with a double-sided tape or the like.

  The coaxial cable 11 connected to the connection cable 4 is horizontally routed along the periphery (weather strip) of the windshield 31 and then passes through the dashboard 30 to the center console 32 to the air conditioner 33 and the car. It is connected to the vehicle-mounted device main body 10 housed together with the stereo 34.

  At this time, the state of the LED 7 serving as an indicator is well recognized through the light guide plate 6 by the first window portion 5a opened on the lower surface of the main body portion 2a. That is, the first window portion 5a is opened toward the rear of the vehicle and faces the occupant's face during driving, so that the visibility is ensured well.

  In addition, since the inclined surface 2c that gradually increases toward the rear of the vehicle is attached to the dashboard 30, the circuit board 3 in the main body 2a is directed in the best possible direction (for example, obliquely upward and forward of the vehicle). The transmission / reception sensitivity can be increased, and the first window portion 5a can be made to face the face of the driving passenger as much as possible.

  FIG. 8 shows an example in which the vehicle-mounted antenna 1 is directly attached to the windshield 31 on the back side of the room mirror 35 (see FIG. 7). That is, the back side (back side) side of the main body 2a, which is the transmission / reception surface of the information signal in the case 2, is directed diagonally upward and forward of the vehicle, and the neck and neck 2b leading out the connection cable 4 is directed upward of the vehicle. The back surface (back surface) side of the main body 2a is adhered to the inner surface of the windshield 31 with a double-sided tape or the like.

  Then, the coaxial cable 11 connected to the connection cable 4 is routed along the peripheral edge (weather strip) of the windshield 31 in the same manner as described above, and then passes through the dashboard 30 to the center console 32. It is connected to the vehicle-mounted device main body 10 housed together with the conditioner 33 and the car stereo 34.

  At this time, the state of the LED 7 serving as an indicator is well recognized through the light guide plate 6 by the second window portion 5b opened on the front surface (front surface) of the main body portion 2a. That is, since the second window portion 5b is opened toward the rear of the vehicle and faces the occupant's face during driving, the visibility is ensured satisfactorily.

  Moreover, since the 2nd window part 5b is opened to the straight surface 2d of the recessed part in the inclined surface 2c, it is made to oppose with respect to the passenger | crew's face during driving | operation further.

  In this manner, the visibility of the LED 7 incorporated in the in-vehicle antenna 1 can be secured satisfactorily regardless of the mounting state of the in-vehicle antenna 1, so that the ETC quality can be improved and the reliability can be improved.

  In addition, by emitting light from the LED 7 through the single light guide plate 6, light can be emitted from the single LED 7 to the two windows 5a and 5b that are opened apart from each other in different directions. In addition, since a bracket for attaching to the dashboard 30 is not necessary, the number of parts can be reduced, and the in-vehicle antenna (unit) can be made compact and the cost can be reduced.

  Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications such as changes in the shape and dimensions of the case and the light source are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. Further, the present invention is not limited to the on-board antenna for the ETC on-vehicle device, but can be applied to other on-vehicle antennas for transmitting and receiving information signals.

In 1st embodiment of this invention, it is a top side view of the vehicle-mounted antenna 1 which shows one Embodiment of this invention. In one Embodiment of this invention, it is a front view of the vehicle-mounted antenna 1. FIG. In one Embodiment of this invention, it is a lower side view of the vehicle-mounted antenna 1. FIG. In one Embodiment of this invention, it is a right view of the vehicle-mounted antenna 1. FIG. In one Embodiment of this invention, it is a rear view of the vehicle-mounted antenna 1. FIG. In one Embodiment of this invention, it is sectional drawing of the vehicle-mounted antenna 1, Comprising: It is the sectional view on the AA line in FIG. In one Embodiment of this invention, it is a figure which shows the use (attachment) state of the vehicle-mounted antenna. In one Embodiment of this invention, it is a figure which shows the use (attachment) state different from FIG. 7 of the vehicle-mounted antenna 1. FIG. In one Embodiment of this invention, it is a circuit block diagram of ETC.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Car-mounted antenna 2 ... Case (main body)
4 ... Connection cable 5a ... 1st window part 5b ... 2nd window part 6 ... Light guide plate (light guide means)
7 ... LED (light source)
10 ... OBE main unit (ETC OBE main unit)

Claims (4)

A main body in which one surface and the other surface are respectively flat surfaces for bonding;
A connection cable protruding from one side of the main body,
A first window provided on a side opposite to the connection cable to emit light from the light source in the main body;
A second window that is provided on any one of the planes so as to be in a vertical positional relationship with the first window and emits a light beam from the light source;
An in-vehicle antenna characterized by comprising:   The in-vehicle antenna according to claim 1, wherein one of the bonding planes is inclined with respect to the other.   3. The vehicle-mounted antenna according to claim 1, wherein the first window portion and the second window portion radiate light rays from the light source through a light guide unit, respectively.   The in-vehicle antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the connection cable is connected to a main body of the ETC on-vehicle device.

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