Patent Application
20220294105
The subject disclosure relates to a multi-antenna ground plane structure for integration in a vehicle.
Vehicles increasingly include communication devices with transmission and/or reception capability. Each of these devices has one or more corresponding antennas. Exemplary devices include a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) such as the global positioning system (GPS) with antennas in the L1 and/or L5 bands, a satellite radio system (e.g., Sirius Satellite Radio®) and a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) system that facilitates vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) or vehicle-to-infrastructure (V21) communication, for example. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a multi-antenna ground plane structure for integration in a vehicle.
In one exemplary embodiment, a multi-antenna ground plane structure in a vehicle includes a first ground plane to be electrically connected to a fascia chassis. The fascia chassis is a portion of the vehicle covered by a fascia. A first side of the first ground plane is configured to seat two or more antennas. The multi-antenna ground plane structure also includes one or more additional ground planes affixed to a second side, opposite the first side, of the first ground plane. One of the one or more additional ground planes is attached to one or more antennas such that the one or more antennas is oriented opposite an orientation of the two or more antennas seated on the first ground plane.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the multi-antenna ground plane structure is shaped and sized to fit completely within a volume defined by the fascia.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the fascia is a spoiler.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the first ground plane is affixed to the fascia chassis.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the first ground plane is electrically connected to the fascia chassis via copper tape.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the first ground plane seats a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) antenna and a satellite radio antenna.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the second ground plane is attached to a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) antenna.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, a shape of the first ground plane is non-uniform in a first dimension along a second dimension that is perpendicular to the first dimension.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the one of the one or more additional ground planes is separated from the first ground plane by one or more standoff structures that electrically connect the first ground plane to the one of the one or more additional ground planes.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the one or more standoff structures is an aluminum post.
In another exemplary embodiment, a method of fabricating a multi-antenna ground plane structure includes fabricating a first ground plane to be electrically connected to a fascia chassis. The fascia chassis being a portion of the vehicle covered by a fascia, wherein a first side of the first ground plane seats two or more antennas. The method also includes affixing one or more additional ground planes to a second side, opposite the first side, of the first ground plane. One of the one or more additional ground planes is attached to one or more antennas such that the one or more antennas is oriented opposite an orientation of the two or more antennas seated on the first ground plane.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the fabricating includes shaping and sizing the multi-antenna ground plane structure to fit completely within a volume defined by the fascia.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the fascia is a spoiler.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the fabricating includes configuring the first ground plane to be affixed to the fascia chassis.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the fabricating includes configuring the first ground plane to be electrically connected to the fascia chassis via copper tape.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the fabricating includes configuring the first ground plane to seat a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) antenna and a satellite radio antenna.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the method also includes configuring the second ground plane to be attached to a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) antenna.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the fabricating includes shaping the first ground plane to be non-uniform in a first dimension along a second dimension that is perpendicular to the first dimension.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the method also includes separating the one of the one or more additional ground planes from the first ground plane using one or more standoff structures that electrically connect the first ground plane to the one of the one or more additional ground planes.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the one or more standoff structures is an aluminum post.
The above features and advantages, and other features and advantages of the disclosure are readily apparent from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Other features, advantages and details appear, by way of example only, in the following detailed description, the detailed description referring to the drawings in which:
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, its application or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.
As previously noted, a vehicle may include a number of communication devices and corresponding antennas. It may be desirable to integrate these antennas in the vehicle in a way that they are hidden rather than protruding from the surface of the vehicle, for aesthetic, aerodynamic, or other purposes. Embodiments of the systems and methods detailed herein relate to a multi-antenna ground plane structure for integration in a vehicle. The ground plane structure is sized and shaped to accommodate antennas that require isolation from each other while fitting completely within the vehicle (e.g., within a volume defined by a spoiler). While a spoiler and corresponding spoiler chassis (i.e., vehicle frame covered by the spoiler) are specifically illustrated and discussed for explanatory purposes, the multi-antenna ground plane structure may be integrated within any fascia of the vehicle and electrically connected to another chassis that is covered by the fascia.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment,
As further discussed with reference to
The multi-antenna ground plane structure 200 is a multi-level structure and, in the exemplary embodiment shown in
The orientation, placement, and relative arrangement of the GNSS antenna 220a and satellite radio antenna 220b on the ground plane 210a, as well as the size and shape of the ground plane 210a, are used to control performance. The GNSS antenna 220a is shown on dielectric substrate 230a and the satellite radio antenna 220b is shown on a dielectric substrate 230b (generally referred to as dielectric substrate 230). Both the GNSS antenna 220a and the satellite radio antenna 220b benefit from a clear sky view. That is, the multi-antenna ground plane structure 200 is oriented within the volume 111 of the spoiler 110 such that the ground plane 210a on which the GNSS antenna 220a and the satellite radio antenna 220b are mounted faces away from the spoiler chassis 120 and toward an exterior of the vehicle 100.
The placement of the GNSS antenna 220a and the satellite radio antenna 220b on the ground plane 210a is such that the two antennas 220 are as far apart as possible while surrounded by as much ground plane 210a as possible on all sides (i.e., not on an edge) for their respective operating frequencies. Thus, the size and shape of the ground plane 210a is selected to facilitate this placement. As shown in
The relative arrangement of the GNSS antenna 220a and the satellite radio antenna 220b is such that the antennas 220 are not aligned (i.e., not parallel), as shown. The operating frequency of the L5 band of the GNSS antenna 220a is 1.176 gigahertz (GHz) while the operating frequency of the satellite radio antenna 220b may be on the order of 2.34 GHz. Thus, the second harmonic of the L5 band of the GNSS antenna 220a may interfere with the satellite radio antenna 220b. The relative arrangement of the antennas 220 facilitates isolation between the GNSS antenna 220a and the satellite radio antenna 220b without having to increase separation distance and, thus, the size of the ground plane 210a. In alternate embodiments, antennas 220 associated with other communication devices of the vehicle 100 may be mounted additionally or alternately on the ground plane 210a. The number of antennas 220 is limited by the space available within the volume 111 defined by the spoiler 110, which then limits the size of the ground plane 210a.
While the above disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from its scope. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but will include all embodiments falling within the scope thereof.
