Antenna unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9799951-B2
Application number	US-201113877698-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2011
Priority date	Oct 8, 2010
Publication date	Oct 24, 2017
Grant date	Oct 24, 2017

Abstract

An antenna unit includes a base having a base-side fitting portion, antenna elements disposed on the base, an inner case fixed to the base and covering the antenna elements, and an outer case mounted on the base covering the inner case. The outer case 50 has an outer-case-side fitting portion fitted to the base-side fitting portion.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An antenna unit for mounting on a vehicle roof, wherein the antenna unit comprises:
a base for mounting on the vehicle roof and having integral base-side fitting portions that are an integral part of the base,
an antenna element supported on the base,
an inner case fixed to the base and covering the antenna element, and
an outer case mounted on and directly attached to the base and covering the inner case, wherein
the outer case has a side surface portion surrounding an outer edge of the base, a ceiling portion joined to the side surface portion, integral outer-case-side fitting portions that are an integral part of the outer case, and an inner wall surface, and
the integral outer-case-side fitting portions of the outer case are positioned inside of and spaced from the side surface portion of the outer case, and are fitted to, engage, and directly contact with the integral base-side fitting portions of the base so that a gap between the outer case and the vehicle roof is negligible.

2. The antenna unit according to claim 1 , wherein
each of the integral base-side fitting portions of the base includes a bottom surface portion, a standing portion having a tip, and an engaging protruding portion at the tip of the standing portion, and the standing portion rises transverse to and from a bottom surface portion of the base,
each of the integral outer-case-side fitting portions of the outer case has a main piece portion extending downward from and transverse to a ceiling wall surface of the outer case, and a sub-piece portion having upper and lower ends, and connected at the lower end to the main piece portion,
the lower end acts as a supporting point when the sub-piece portion is bent,
the upper end of the sub-piece portion has an engaging claw protruding toward a lateral side of the main piece portion, and
the engaging claw is engaged by the engaging protruding portion.

3. The antenna unit according to claim 2 , wherein the main piece portion has an opening and the sub-piece portion is located inside the opening in the main piece portion.

4. The antenna unit according to claim 3 , wherein
the base has a plurality of regulating portions respectively facing respective standing portions, with one of the integral outer-case-side fitting portions of the outer case interposed between each regulating portion and a corresponding standing portion,
each regulating portion is located at a position limiting bending of a corresponding main piece portion, and
each standing portion has an upper part, each regulating portion has an upper part, and the upper parts of one of the standing portions and of the corresponding regulating portion have respective tapering thicknesses and the thicknesses of the standing portions and of the regulating portions increase toward the base.

5. The antenna unit according to claim 3 including first and second pairs of each of the integral base-side fitting portions of the base and integral outer-case-side fitting portions of the outer case, wherein
the first pairs of the integral base-side fitting portions of the base and the integral outer-case-side fitting portions of the outer case are disposed at respective locations, on a first straight line,
the second pairs of the integral base-side fitting portions of the base and the integral outer-case-side fitting portions of the outer case are disposed at respective locations, on a second straight line, and
the second straight line is orthogonal to the first straight line.

6. The antenna unit according to claim 3 , wherein
the outer case has a projecting piece portion extending inward from and transverse to the side surface portion, and
the projecting piece portion presses against an under surface side of the base and, when the outer case is rotated relative to the base by a predetermined angle, the projecting pieces no longer presses against the under surface of the base for separating the outer case from the base.

7. The antenna unit according to claim 2 , wherein
the base has a plurality of regulating portions respectively facing respective standing portions, with one of the integral outer-case-side fitting portions of the outer case interposed between each regulating portion and a corresponding standing portion,
each regulating portion is located at a position limiting bending of a corresponding main piece portion, and
each standing portion has an upper part, each regulating portion has an upper part, and the upper parts of the standing portions and of the corresponding regulating portion have respective tapering thicknesses and the thicknesses of the standing portions and of the regulating portions increase toward the base.

8. The antenna unit according to claim 7 including first and second pairs of each of the integral base-side fitting portions of the base and integral outer-case-side fitting portions of the outer case, wherein
the first pairs of the integral base-side fitting portions of the base and the integral outer-case-side fitting portions of the outer case are disposed at respective locations, on a first straight line,
the second pairs of the integral base-side fitting portions of the base and the integral, outer-case-side fitting portions of the outer case are disposed at respective locations, on a second straight line, and
the second straight line is orthogonal to the first straight line.

9. The antenna unit according to claim 7 , wherein
the outer case has a projecting piece portion extending inward from and transverse to the side surface portion, and
the projecting piece portion presses against an under surface side of the base and, when the outer case is rotated relative to the base by a predetermined angle, the projecting pieces no longer presses against the under surface of the base for separating the outer case from the base.

10. The antenna unit according to claim 2 including first and second pairs of each of the integral base-side fitting portions of the base and integral outer-case-side fitting portions of the outer case, wherein
the first pairs of the integral base-side fitting portions of the base and the integral outer-case-side fitting portions of the outer case are disposed at respective locations, on a first straight line,
the second pairs of the integral base-side fitting portions of the base and the integral outer-case-side fitting portions of the outer case are disposed at respective locations, on a second straight line, and
the second straight line is orthogonal to the first straight line.

11. The antenna unit according to claim 2 , wherein
the outer case has a projecting piece portion extending inward from and transverse to the side surface portion, and
the projecting piece portion presses against an under surface side of the base and, when the outer case is rotated relative to the base by a predetermined angle, the projecting pieces no longer presses against the under surface of the base for separating the outer case from the base.

12. The antenna unit according to claim 1 including first and second pairs of each of the integral base-side fitting portions of the base and integral outer-case-side fitting portions of the outer case, wherein
the first pairs of the integral base-side fitting portions of the base and the integral outer-case-side fitting portions of the outer case are disposed at respective locations, on a first straight line,
the second pairs of the integral base-side fitting portions of the base and the integral outer-case-side fitting portions of the outer case are disposed at respective locations, on a second straight line, and
the second straight line is orthogonal to the first straight l

Assignees

• Sawaya Takuma
• Hanita Tokumitsu
• Go Seiji
• Ubukata Atsushi
• Yokowo Seisakusho Kk

Inventors

• Sawaya Takuma
• Hanita Tokumitsu
• Go Seiji
• Ubukata Atsushi

Classifications

• H01Q1/42

  Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome · CPC title

• H01Q1/3275 Primary

  mounted on a horizontal surface of the vehicle, e.g. on roof, hood, trunk · CPC title

• H01Q1/422 Primary

  comprising two or more layers of dielectric material (H01Q1/425 takes precedence) · CPC title