The present invention relates to antenna apparatuses and methods. More particularly, the present invention relates to antenna apparatuses and methods for vehicles. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to mountable and adjustable antenna apparatuses and methods for vehicles.
A common current vehicle antenna in the related art is an antenna rod which is fastened to a base in a ball and socket configuration, i.e., the ball is disposed at the proximal end of the antenna for universal pivoting on the socket which is mounted to the base. One such apparatus comprises a socket having a plurality of slots within which the antenna may be radially disposed by user-selection. Another apparatus is window-mountable and comprises an outer cover being disposed at the base of the antenna and having a cross section being elongated in the direction of the vehicle's travel, the cover including an enlarged section covering a loading coil for resisting bending of the antenna due to aerodynamic loads. The antenna is provided with a conductive base which engages a conductive pivot support. This antenna may be pivoted to a position proximate to the surface of the vehicle for resisting bending and later repositioned for optimizing reception of a signal.
Another related art invention involves a vehicle antenna rod support which comprises a foot portion being adapted for affixation to a base and a pivotal joint being therein mounted. The pivotal joint has a socket provided with a slot for receiving a cylindrical body for a rotary motion only in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the foot portion. A terminal screw which forms the proximal end of the antenna rod projects through the slot and is threadably engaged into a diametrical bore of the cylindrical body. This cylindrical body has a cylindrical passage which extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the foot portion. The cylindrical body is rotatably received in the passage only. A flange-style stop is affixed to the terminal screw outside the socket for being clamped against an external face of the socket upon threading the terminal screw into the bore. Yet another related art apparatus is directed toward a universal replacement antenna assembly for vehicles. An antenna mast is coupled to a mounting member having a lower body portion and an upper connecting portion. A plurality of rocker arms pivot from a lower end of the mounting member from an upright closed position to an open position, but never exceeding a range of 90 degrees from the closed position.
A related art satellite antenna apparatus comprises a pair of antenna assemblies being mounted in parallel on a rotatable platform. Each antenna assembly includes two sub-reflectors with a matching plastic element. The outputs of the two antenna assemblies are coupled with a single phase shifter. The combined outputs are retransmitted to a receiver which is located inside the vehicle. However, these related art antennas remain exposed to hazards, such as corrosion, accidental structural damage, vandalism, drag, fatigue, and flutter. Thus, a long-felt need is seen to exist for an antenna apparatus and a method which protects the antenna circuitry from such hazards.
The present invention mountable and adjustable antenna apparatus generally comprises a top housing member, a bottom housing member, and an antenna assembly being disposed within the top housing member. The top housing member is in a rotatable relation to the bottom housing member; and the antenna assembly is in a fixed relation to the top housing member. The top housing member comprises an aerodynamic configuration for reducing drag on, and for eliminating fatigue as well as flutter of, the antenna assembly. The aerodynamic configuration comprises a feature such as an airfoil-shaped cross-section, a span-wise taper, a span-wise linear taper, a back sweep, and a forward sweep.
The present invention method for mounting and adjusting an antenna apparatus generally comprises the steps of providing a top housing member, providing a bottom housing member, disposing and affixing an antenna assembly within the top housing member, and rotating the top housing member in relation to the bottom housing member, thereby adjusting the apparatus. The present method further comprises the step of providing the top housing member with an aerodynamic configuration for reducing drag on, and for eliminating fatigue as well as flutter of, the antenna assembly. The aerodynamic configuration providing step includes providing a feature such as an airfoil-shaped cross-section, a span-wise taper, a span-wise linear taper, a back sweep, and a forward sweep.
An advantage of the present invention is the protection of the antenna assembly, containing the delicate antenna circuitry, from corrosion, short-circuiting, fatigue, accidental damage, and vandalism. Other advantages include optimization of the signal transmission and the reduction of drag on, and the elimination of fatigue as well as flutter of, the antenna assembly. Further advantages include the enabling of rapid adjustment of the antenna assembly by the user and an omni-directional radiation pattern which allows any orientation of the antenna assembly without adversely affecting performance. Other features of the present invention are disclosed, or are apparent, in the section entitled “Modes for Carrying out the Invention,” disclosed, infra.
For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the below-referenced accompanying Drawings. Reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several figures of the Drawings.
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The electrical characteristics of the antenna assembly 300 include a first frequency range of approximately 806 MHz to approximately 886 MHz as well as a second frequency range of approximately 2400 MHz to approximately 2500 MHz, a bandwidth of approximately 66 MHz @ approximately 2.0:1 VSWR corresponding to the first frequency range and a bandwidth of approximately 100 MHz corresponding to the second frequency range, a VSWR of approximately less than 2.0:1, a nominal gain of approximately 3 dBMEG, a maximum power of approximately 100 W, a nominal impedance of approximately 50 ohms, a nominal ground plane requirement of approximately 7 inches corresponding to the first frequency range and nominal ground plane requirement of approximately 2.5 inches corresponding to the second frequency range, an omni-directional radiation pattern, and a vertical polarization with field diversity.
The present method M of mounting and adjusting an antenna apparatus comprises the steps of providing a top housing member 100, providing a bottom housing member 200, disposing and affixing an antenna assembly 300 within the top housing member 100, and rotating the top housing member 100 in relation to the bottom housing member 200, thereby adjusting the apparatus 1000. The method M further comprises the step of providing the top housing member 100 with an aerodynamic configuration for reducing drag on, and for eliminating fatigue as well as flutter of, the antenna assembly 300. The aerodynamic configuration providing step includes providing a feature such as an airfoil-shaped cross-section, a span-wise taper, a span-wise linear taper, a back sweep, and a forward sweep.
Information as herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the above-described object of the invention, the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, and is, thus, representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention. The scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and is to be limited, accordingly, by nothing other than the appended claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiment and additional embodiments that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are hereby expressly incorporated by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims.
Moreover, no requirement exists for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be resolved by the present invention, for such to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. However, various changes and modifications in form, material, and fabrication material detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions as set forth in the appended claims and should be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. No claim herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”
The present invention industrially applies to antenna apparatuses and methods. More particularly, the present invention industrially applies to antenna apparatuses and methods for vehicles. Even more particularly, the present invention industrially applies to mountable and adjustable antenna apparatuses and methods for vehicles.