This document relates generally to the motor vehicle equipment field and, more particularly, to a motor vehicle antenna characterized by a through roof panel attachment and assembly scheme.
A motor vehicle antenna must meet the reception requirements of AM/FM, GPS, satellite radio, cellular regional, cellular global and dedicated short range communication (DSRC—car to car), broadcast/communication technologies. Toward this end, current architecture and design has a small metal plate on a moon roof vehicle as part of the moon roof or a metal mini-roof as part of the body structure across the front or back of the moon roof. See
This document relates to a new and improved antenna assembly that not only meets the reception requirements of AM/FM, GPS, satellite radio, cellular regional, cellular global and DSRC but also provides for improved aesthetics and the use of a larger, uninterrupted roof panel of glass or plastic.
In accordance with the purposes and benefits described herein, an antenna assembly is provided. That antenna assembly comprises a ground plane including a plateau, a metal foil overlying the plateau, a roof panel overlying the ground plane around the plateau and an antenna including a base juxtaposed to the plateau. More specifically, the roof panel includes a mounting opening that extends around the plateau.
That roof panel may include a first layer of glass or plastic and a second layer of glass or plastic. The mounting opening may include a first aperture formed in the first layer and a second aperture formed in the second layer. The first aperture may have a first perimeter while the second aperture may have a second perimeter wherein the second perimeter is fully contained within the first perimeter. At least one RF coupling standoff or a connection lead may be provided between the base and the second layer within the first perimeter.
A first water seal may be provided between the base and the first layer. In addition, a second water seal may be provided between the base and the plateau. Still further a dust seal may be provided between the base and the first layer.
In at least one of the many possible embodiments, the first layer and the second glass may be tempered glass. An adhesive layer may be provided between the first layer and the second layer. In addition, the metal foil may be provided between the first layer and the second layer. The ground plane and the metal foil function together to significantly improve the reception of the antenna.
In at least one of the many possible embodiments, an IR coating may be provided between the first layer and the second layer. Further, in at least one of the many possible embodiments instead of tempered glass, the second layer may be an alkali-aluminosilicate sheet glass.
In the following description, there are shown and described several preferred embodiments of the antenna assembly. As it should be realized, the antenna assembly is capable of other, different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the antenna assembly as set forth and described in the following claims. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
The accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the antenna assembly and together with the description serves to explain certain principles thereof. In the drawing figures:
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the antenna assembly, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures.
Reference is now made to
The antenna assembly 10 also includes a ground plane 18 having a raised area or plateau 20. The ground plane 18, including the plateau 20, is made from an appropriate metal in order to improve antenna reception. The ground plane 18 may be about 300 mm in diameter (minimum) directly underneath the antenna 12. Typically, the plateau 20 has a height of between about 1.0 and 4.0 mm.
A roof panel 22 overlies the ground plane 18. The roof panel 22 includes an antenna mounting opening 24 that extends around the plateau 20. More specifically, the roof panel 22 includes a first layer 26 and a second layer 28. An adhesive layer 30 of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) or other appropriate material is provided between the first layer 26 and the second layer 28. In addition, a metal foil 32 may be provided in the adhesive layer 30 between the first layer 26 and the second layer 28. The metal foil 32 extends over the top of the plateau 20 and functions in conjunction with the ground plane 18 to improve the reception of the antenna 12. Toward this end, the ground plane 18 and the metal foil 32 are both grounded to the motor vehicle body via RF ground strap (not shown).
In some embodiments an IR coating 34 may also be provided between the first layer 26 and the second layer 28. In the illustrated embodiment, that IR coating 34 is provided on the bottom face of the first layer 26.
In many of the possible embodiments, the first layer 26 is formed from a tempered glass. The second layer 28 may be formed from a tempered glass as well. Where the first layer 26 and the second layer 28 are both formed from a tempered glass, the formulation of the tempered glass does not necessarily need to be identical and the thicknesses of the first layer 26 and the second layer 28 also do not need to be identical.
In other possible embodiments, the second layer 28 is formed from an alkali-aluminosilicate sheet glass in order to provide additional strength to the roof panel 22. In one particularly useful embodiment, the first layer 26 is a tempered glass with a thickness of about 1.6 mm and the second, underlying layer 28 is an aluminosilicate sheet glass with a thickness of about 0.7 mm. Here it should be appreciated that this particular embodiment detailed above should be considered exemplary and not limiting in scope. In fact, the first layer 26 and the second layer 28 may be made from various glass or plastic materials including, but not necessarily limited to tempered glass, semi-tempered or heat strengthened glass, annealed glass, polycarbonate or other appropriate transparent, translucent or opaque plastic. Further, in some embodiments, the roof panel 22 may be a single layer.
As further illustrated in
When the antenna assembly 10 is fully assembled, the base 14 supporting the antenna 12 is connected via the antenna foot 46 and one or more bolts 41 juxtaposed to the plateau 20 of the ground plane 18. In one possible embodiment, the base 14 includes two threated studs that extend through two cooperating apertures in the plateau 20 and one or more captured bolts secure the connection 40. Here it should be appreciated that the connection 40 is schematically illustrated in
As further illustrated in
Referring back to
As illustrated in
The foregoing has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.
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Number | Date | Country |
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102004011662 | Oct 2005 | DE |
102007012486 | Sep 2008 | DE |
10242726 | Sep 1998 | JP |
2006246052 | Sep 2006 | JP |
20090059979 | Jun 2009 | KR |
WO 2004086556 | Oct 2004 | WO |
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English Machine Translation of DE102004011662A1. |
English Machine Translation of DE102007012486A1. |
English Machine Translation of JP2006246052A. |
English Machine Translation of JP10242726A. |
English Machine Translation of KR20090059979A. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20180090828 A1 | Mar 2018 | US |