Vehicle antenna system

• US 20040021610A1
• Filed: 07/10/2003
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Hickel, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 6,885,349 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/713
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3291 mounted in or on other locations inside the vehicle or vehicle body

Abstract

A vehicle antenna array including at least one antenna element integrated into a body of the vehicle, is disclosed, which array nevertheless permits easy accessibility of the antenna element. The at least one antenna element is integrated into a lighting device of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle antenna array having at least one antenna element (10, 11, 12, 15) integrated into a body (20) of the vehicle (25), wherein the at least one antenna element (10, 11, 12, 15) is integrated into a lighting device (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) of the vehicle (25).

2. The vehicle antenna array as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one antenna element (10, 11, 12, 15) is situated in a brake light fixture (4), a front headlight (1), a turn indicator (2, 3), or a rear light (5).

3. The vehicle antenna array as recited in claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one antenna element (10, 11, 12, 15) is situated behind a headlight glass (13) of the lighting device (1, 2, 3, 4, 5).

4. The vehicle antenna array as recited in claim 3, wherein the headlight glass (13) carries the at least one antenna element (10, 11, 12, 15).

5. The vehicle antenna array as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein in addition to the at least one antenna element (10, 11, 12, 15), an antenna amplifier is integrated into the lighting device (1, 2, 3, 4, 5).

6. The vehicle antenna array as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein a first antenna element (11) is designed as a folded dipole antenna, which surrounds a light fixture (7) of the lighting device (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) at least partially.

7. The vehicle antenna array as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein a second antenna element (10) is designed as a monopole whose base point (30) is connected to an electrically conducting plane, in particular to the body (20) of the vehicle.

8. The vehicle antenna array as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein a third antenna element (12) is designed as a patch antenna, in particular as a GPS (Global Positioning System) patch antenna, and the patch antenna (12) is situated on the electrically conducting plane, in particular on the vehicle body (20).

9. The vehicle antenna array as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein a fourth antenna element (15) is designed as a notch antenna element, and the notch antenna element is connected to the electrically conducting plane, in particular to the body (20) of the vehicle, at two opposite edges (35, 40) which run approximately in the same direction as a notch (45) of the notch antenna element (15).