Independently mounted on-glass antenna module

• US 20040095284A1
• Filed: 11/19/2002
• Published: 05/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Livengood, William R., Robson, Randall J., Mueller, Thomas R., Duane, Martin T.
• Granted Patent: US 6,861,991 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/713
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1271 for mounting on windscreens

Abstract

An antenna module provides signals received by an antenna to a communication system, such as a vehicle radio, wireless telephony system, or keyless entry system. The antenna module includes antenna circuitry having a terminal. When a compressible contact is compressed, it electrically couples this terminal to another terminal, which is disposed on a surface. A cover disposed over the antenna circuitry compresses the compressible contact when the cover is adhesively mounted to the surface. As a result, the terminals need not be soldered to the glass or other surface. Accordingly, the manufacturing process can be simplified. For example, the antenna module can be installed independently of other manufacturing processes.

Claims

1. An antenna module comprising:

antenna circuitry having a first terminal;

a compressible contact arranged to electrically couple the first terminal to a second terminal disposed on a surface when the compressible contact is compressed; and

a cover disposed over the antenna circuitry and arranged to compress the compressible contact when the cover is adhesively mounted to the surface.

2. The antenna module of claim 1, wherein the cover is formed from an electrically nonconductive material.

3. The antenna module of claim 1, wherein the cover is formed from an electrically conductive material and defines a slot arranged to receive a conductor coupled to the second terminal without establishing contact between the cover and the conductor.

4. The antenna module of claim 3, wherein the cover is adhesively mounted to the surface using a conductive adhesive.

5. The antenna module of claim 1, wherein the compressible contact is formed from silicone impregnated with a conductive material.

6. The antenna module of claim 1, wherein the second terminal comprises one of an antenna output terminal, a coaxial shield terminal, an antenna input terminal, an antenna module power terminal, and an antenna module ground terminal.

7. The antenna module of claim 1, wherein the surface comprises a window glass.

8. The antenna module of claim 7, wherein the window glass forms part of a vehicle.

9. The antenna module of claim 1, further comprising an antenna module base arranged to snap together with the cover.

10. A vehicle antenna system comprising:

an antenna having an antenna terminal disposed on a surface of the vehicle;

antenna circuitry having an antenna circuit terminal;

a compressible contact arranged to electrically couple the antenna circuit terminal to one of the antenna terminal and another terminal when the compressible contact is compressed; and

a cover disposed over the antenna circuitry and arranged to compress the compressible contact when the cover is adhesively mounted to the surface.

11. The vehicle antenna system of claim 10, wherein the cover is formed from an electrically nonconductive material.

12. The vehicle antenna system of claim 10, wherein the cover is formed from an electrically conductive material and defines a slot arranged to receive a conductor coupled to one of the antenna terminal and the other terminal without establishing contact between the cover and the conductor.

13. The vehicle antenna system of claim 12, wherein the cover is adhesively mounted to the surface using a conductive adhesive.

14. The vehicle antenna system of claim 10, wherein the compressible contact is formed from silicone impregnated with a conductive material.

15. The vehicle antenna system of claim 10, wherein the other terminal comprises one of an antenna output terminal, a coaxial shield terminal, an antenna module power terminal, and an antenna module ground terminal.

16. The vehicle antenna system of claim 10, wherein the surface comprises a window glass.

17. The vehicle antenna system of claim 10, further comprising an antenna module base arranged to snap together with the cover.

18. A vehicle communication system, comprising:

an antenna having an antenna terminal disposed on a surface of the vehicle;

a communication subsystem having a communication subsystem terminal disposed on the surface;

antenna circuitry having an antenna circuit terminal;

a compressible contact arranged to electrically couple the antenna circuit terminal to one of the antenna terminal and the communication subsystem terminal when the compressible contact is compressed; and

a cover disposed over the antenna circuitry and arranged to compress the compressible contact when the cover is adhesively mounted to the surface.

19. The vehicle communication system of claim 18, wherein the cover is formed from an electrically nonconductive material.

20. The vehicle communication system of claim 18, wherein the cover is formed from an electrically conductive material and defines a slot arranged to receive a conductor coupled to one of the antenna terminal and the communication subsystem terminal without establishing contact between the cover and the conductor.

21. The vehicle communication system of claim 20, wherein the cover is adhesively mounted to the surface using a conductive adhesive.

22. The vehicle communication system of claim 18, wherein the compressible contact is formed from silicone impregnated with a conductive material.

23. The vehicle communication system of claim 18, wherein the communication subsystem terminal comprises one of an antenna output terminal, a coaxial shield terminal, an antenna module power terminal, and an antenna module ground terminal.

24. The vehicle communication system of claim 18, wherein the surface comprises a window glass.

25. The vehicle communication system of claim 18, further comprising an antenna module base arranged to snap together with the cover.

26. The vehicle communication system of claim 18, wherein the communication subsystem comprises at least one of a car radio, a wireless telephony system, a GPS system, a keyless entry system. a television system, and a remote tire pressure monitoring system.

27. A method for installing an antenna module, the method comprising:

providing antenna circuitry having a first terminal;

arranging a compressible contact to electrically couple the first terminal to a second terminal disposed on a surface when the compressible contact is compressed; and

adhesively mounting a cover disposed over the antenna circuitry to the surface, thereby compressing the compressible contact and electrically coupling the first terminal to the second terminal.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the cover is formed from an electrically nonconductive material.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the cover is formed from an electrically conductive material and defines a slot arranged to receive a conductor coupled to the second terminal without establishing contact between the cover and the conductor.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising adhesively mounting the cover to the surface using a conductive adhesive.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the compressible contact is formed from silicone impregnated with a conductive material.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the second terminal comprises one of an antenna output terminal, a coaxial shield terminal, an antenna input terminal, an antenna module power terminal, and an antenna module ground terminal.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein the surface comprises a window glass.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the window glass forms part of a vehicle.

35. The method of claim 27, further comprising attaching the cover to an antenna module base.