CONFIGURABLE ANTENNA ELEMENT

• US 20130106658A1
• Filed: 10/26/2011
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Kittinger, Gregg R., Hibbard, Donald B. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,896,496 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/700.MS
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/32 Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/40 Radiating elements coated with or embedded in protective material

Abstract

A configurable antenna element comprises a conductor encased in a foam substrate with a pressure sensitive adhesive applied to a surface of the foam substrate for application of the configurable antenna to a surface.

Claims

1. A configurable antenna element comprising:

a conductor encased in a foam substrate

a pressure sensitive adhesive applied to a surface of the foam substrate for application of the configurable antenna to a surface.

2. The configurable antenna of claim 1, wherein the conductor is constructed of a standard metal/wire antenna element.

3. The configurable antenna of claim 1, wherein the foam substrate is of the type of material that is a Buzz, Squeak and Rattle (“

BSR”

) material which is used to dampen noise is a vehicle.

4. The configurable antenna of claim 3, wherein the BSR material includes cellular foam or EPDM.

5. The configurable antenna of claim 1, wherein a removable liner is applied to and protects the pressure sensitive adhesive until the configurable antenna element is ready for installation.

6. A vehicle body panel having a configurable antenna disposed therein comprising:

a conductor encased in a foam substrate

a pressure sensitive adhesive applied to a surface of the foam substrate for application of the configurable antenna to the vehicle body panel.

7. The vehicle body panel of claim 6, wherein the conductor is constructed of a standard metal/wire antenna element.

8. The vehicle body panel of claim 6, wherein the foam substrate is of the type of material that is a Buzz, Squeak and Rattle (“

BSR”

) material which is used to dampen noise is a vehicle.

9. The vehicle body panel of claim 8, wherein the BSR material includes cellular foam or EPDM.

10. The vehicle body panel of claim 6, wherein a removable liner is applied to and protects the pressure sensitive adhesive until the configurable antenna element is ready for installation.

11. The vehicle body panel of claim 6, wherein molded guides or channels are integrally located in an underbody surface thereof for application of the configurable antenna thereto.

12. The vehicle body panel of claim 6, wherein an end portion of the conductor may be stripped of the foam substrate following application and utilized as a transition to a Coax cable or a connector for attachment to an audio amplifier.