Apparatus for mounting a satellite antenna in a vehicle

• US 20070171137A1
• Filed: 11/10/2006
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mierzwa, Kevin G., Casavant, Scott D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,847,744 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/713
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/288 Satellite antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3275 mounted on a horizontal surface of the vehicle, e.g. on roof, hood, trunk
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3291 mounted in or on other locations inside the vehicle or vehicle body

Abstract

A vehicle 16 includes a vehicle body 30. A satellite antenna 18 is mounted within the vehicle body 30. A satellite transmissive panel 40 is coupled to the vehicle body 30 adjacent to the antenna 18. The satellite antenna may be mounted within the passenger compartment 20 or within the trunk 90 of the vehicle 16.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body;

a satellite antenna mounted within the vehicle body; and

a satellite transmissive panel coupled to the vehicle body adjacent to the antenna.

2. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein the vehicle body comprises a roof bow, said satellite antenna coupled to a roof bow.

3. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein the vehicle body comprises a first roof bow and a second roof bow, said satellite antenna coupled to the first roof bow and the second roof bow.

4. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein the vehicle body comprises a side rail, said satellite antenna coupled to the side rail.

5. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 further comprising a housing coupled to the vehicle body, said antenna coupled within the housing.

6. A vehicle as recited in claim 5 further comprising sound insulation disposed on the housing.

7. A vehicle as recited in claim 5 wherein the housing is coupled to a roof bow.

8. A vehicle as recited in claim 5 wherein the housing is coupled to a side rail.

9. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 further comprising a bracket coupled between the vehicle body and the antenna.

10. A vehicle as recited in claim 9 wherein the bracket is coupled to a roof bow.

11. A vehicle as recited in claim 9 wherein the bracket is coupled to a side rail.

12. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein the vehicle body comprises a roof skin and the transmissive panel is flush with the roof skin.

13. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein the vehicle body comprises a deck lid and the transmissive panel is flush with the deck lid.

14. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein the vehicle body comprises a roof skin and wherein the transmissive panel forms the roof skin.

15. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein the vehicle body comprises a deck lid and wherein the transmissive panel forms the deck lid.

16. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 further comprising sound insulation disposed on the antenna.

17. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 further comprising a headliner, said antenna disposed between the headliner and the roof.

18. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein the satellite antenna is disposed within a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

19. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein the satellite antenna is disposed within a trunk of the vehicle.

20. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 further comprising a satellite receiver coupled to the antenna and a display coupled to the satellite receiver.

21. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein the satellite receiver is coupled to the body.

22. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body having a passenger compartment and a roof;

a headliner disposed within the passenger compartment;

a satellite antenna mounted within the vehicle body between the headliner and the roof; and

a satellite transmissive panel coupled to the vehicle body adjacent to the antenna.

23. A vehicle as recited in claim 22 wherein the vehicle body comprises a roof bow, said satellite antenna coupled to a roof bow.

24. A vehicle as recited in claim 22 wherein the vehicle body comprises a first roof bow and a second roof bow, said satellite antenna coupled to the first roof bow and the sound roof bow.

25. A vehicle as recited in claim 22 wherein the vehicle body comprises a side rail, said satellite antenna coupled to the side rail.

26. A vehicle as recited in claim 22 further comprising a housing coupled to the vehicle body, said antenna coupled within the housing.

27. A vehicle as recited in claim 26 further comprising sound insulation disposed on the housing.

28. A vehicle as recited in claim 26 wherein the housing is coupled to a roof bow.

29. A vehicle as recited in claim 26 wherein the housing is coupled to a side rail.

30. A vehicle as recited in claim 22 further comprising a bracket coupled between the vehicle body and the antenna.

31. A vehicle as recited in claim 30 wherein the bracket is coupled to a roof bow.

32. A vehicle as recited in claim 30 wherein the bracket is coupled to a side rail.

33. A vehicle as recited in claim 22 wherein the vehicle body comprises a roof skin and the transmissive panel is flush with the roof skin.

34. A vehicle as recited in claim 22 wherein the vehicle body comprises a deck lid and the transmissive panel is flush with the deck lid.

35. A vehicle as recited in claim 22 wherein the vehicle body comprises a roof skin and wherein the transmissive panel forms the roof skin.

36. A vehicle as recited in claim 22 further comprising sound insulation disposed on the antenna.

37. A vehicle as recited in claim 22 wherein the satellite antenna is disposed within a trunk of the vehicle.

38. A vehicle as recited in claim 22 further comprising a satellite receiver coupled to the antenna and a display coupled to the satellite receiver.

39. A vehicle as recited in claim 22 wherein the satellite receiver is coupled to the body.