APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING A SATELLITE ANTENNA IN A VEHICLE

• US 20110037669A1
• Filed: 10/27/2010
• Published: 02/17/2011
• 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 8,593,356 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/714
• 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 comprising a deck lid;

a satellite antenna mounted within the vehicle body and coupled to the deck lid; and

a panel for transmitting a satellite signal therethrough forming an exterior surface of the deck lid adjacent to the antenna.

2. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 further comprising a housing mounted to the deck lid.

3. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 further comprising a housing mounted to support structure associated with the deck lid.

4. A vehicle as recited in claim 2 further comprising sound insulation disposed on the housing.

5. A vehicle as recited in claim 2 wherein the antenna is mounted between the housing and the panel.

6. A vehicle as recited in claim 2 wherein the panel is flush with the deck lid.

7. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein the panel forms the deck lid.

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

9. A vehicle as recited in claim 8 wherein the satellite receiver is coupled to the vehicle body.

10. A vehicle as recited in claim 8 wherein the satellite receiver is coupled within a passenger compartment of the vehicle body.

11. A vehicle as recited in claim 8 wherein the display is coupled within a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

12. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein the satellite antenna comprises an omni-directional antenna.

13. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein the satellite antenna comprises a rotating-type antenna.

14. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein the satellite antenna comprises a phased-array antenna.