VEHICULAR ROOFTOP COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20140049912A1
• Filed: 08/17/2012
• Published: 02/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Marshall, Graham G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,509,357 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/692
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers

Abstract

A vehicular rooftop communication system (200) provides communication electronics (216) within a housing (210) formed of a removable rooftop enclosure (212) and a base (214). The housing (210) is removable and transferable to another vehicle. The vehicular rooftop communication system (200) does not require any access to the vehicle'"'"'s trunk.

Claims

1. A communication system for a vehicle, comprising:

a housing comprising communication electronics, the housing being formed of a removable rooftop enclosure and a base; and

the housing being removably coupled to a rooftop of the vehicle, wherein the communication electronics are accessible by removing the removable rooftop enclosure while the housing is coupled to the vehicle, and wherein the housing comprising the communication electronics is removable and transferable to another vehicle.

2. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the communication system is not incorporated into a light system of the vehicle.

3. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the housing comprising the communication system is removably coupled to and from the rooftop via a mounting apparatus.

4. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the communication electronics within the housing are cooled by a vented rooftop of the vehicle.

5. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the communication electronics within the housing mounted on the rooftop are electrically coupled to a mobile radio within the vehicle.

6. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises:

vents for cooling the communication electronics.

7. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises:

vents for cooling the communication electronics; and

an access panel for accessing the communication electronics.

8. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the communication electronics within the housing on the rooftop comprise:

a controller;

at least one antenna; and

a mobile radio transceiver coupled to the controller.

9. The communication system of claim 8, wherein the vehicle comprises:

an in-dash mobile radio;

a dash mounted computer;

a car battery; and

wherein the communication electronics within the housing on the rooftop are powered by the car battery and in communication with the in-dash mobile radio and the dash mounted computer.

10. The communication system of claim 9, wherein the communication electronics within the housing on the rooftop comprise:

a plurality of microphones;

a power systems fuse panel; and

a plurality of cameras.

11. The communication system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of cameras comprise:

a panoramic digital camera; and

an automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) camera.

12. The communication system of claim 11, wherein the communication electronics within the housing on the rooftop further comprise:

a multi-media router;

a modem router; and

a power systems fuse panel; and

the multi-media router, the modem router, the power systems fuse panel are controlled via the controller.

13. A communication system, comprising:

a housing removably coupled to a rooftop of a vehicle; and

the housing comprising a removable rooftop enclosure and a base for encasing and accessing communication electronics, the communication electronics interfacing with radio electronics within the vehicle as part of a public safety communication system.

14. The communication system, of claim 13 wherein the housing is transferable to another rooftop of another vehicle.

15. The communication system, of claim 13 wherein:

the communication electronics are accessible by removing the removable rooftop enclosure while the housing is coupled to the rooftop of the vehicle; and

the communication electronics are accessible by removing the housing from the rooftop of the vehicle and then removing the removable rooftop enclosure from the housing.

16. The communication system of claim 13, wherein the housing is vented.

17. The communication system of claim 13, further comprising:

holes formed in the rooftop of the vehicle;

apertures formed within the base of the housing, the holes aligning with the apertures;

vents aligned with the apertures within the base; and

wherein the removable rooftop enclosure is vented using the apertures and the vents which align with the holes of the rooftop.

18. The communication system of claim 13, wherein communication system is accessible without accessing a trunk of the vehicle.

19. The communication system of claim 13, wherein the communication system is independent of the vehicle'"'"'s rooftop light system.

20. The communication system of claim 13, wherein the communication electronics encased in the housing comprise:

a controller;

at least one antenna; and

a mobile radio transceiver coupled to the controller.

21. The communication system of claim 20, wherein the communication electronics encased in the housing further comprise:

a plurality of microphones;

a power systems fuse panel; and

a plurality of cameras.

22. The communication system of claim 13, wherein the radio electronics within the vehicle comprise:

an in-dash mobile radio within the vehicle; and

a dash mounted computer within the vehicle.