Antenna system incorporated in the air spoiler of an automobile
First Claim
1. An antenna system for an automotive vehicle comprising:
- air spoiler means mounted on a body of said automotive vehicle for rectifying an airstream along the body of said automotive vehicle, said air spoiler having an interior space and having at least a portion of an upper surface thereof made of a dielectric material for transmitting radio waves;
at least one planar antenna element accommodated within said interior space of said air spoiler arranged on the body of an automotive vehicle so that a principal radio wave receiving plane of said planar antenna is substantially parallel with a surface of the body and faces said portion of the upper surface of said air spoiler made of the dielectric material, said planar antenna element being supported to be rotated about a substantially vertical axis; and
driving means accommodated within said interior space of said air spoiler for rotating said planar antenna.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An antenna system for use in an automotive vehicle comprises a housing mounted on a body of the automotive vehicle and having at least a portion of an upper surface thereof made of a dielectric material which transmits radio waves, at least one planar antenna disposed rotatably within the housing to receive radio waves transmitted through the portion of the upper surface of the housing made of the dielectric material, and driving means for driving the planar antenna to effect scanning of a radio wave receiving direction to search for the radio wave receiving direction of higher sensitivity. The housing protects the antenna system and maintains the fine appearance of the automotive vehicle. Further, the housing has a shape like that of an air spoiler, which makes it possible to maintain the satisfactory aerodynamic characteristic of the automotive vehicle.
64 Citations
9 Claims
-
1. An antenna system for an automotive vehicle comprising:
-
air spoiler means mounted on a body of said automotive vehicle for rectifying an airstream along the body of said automotive vehicle, said air spoiler having an interior space and having at least a portion of an upper surface thereof made of a dielectric material for transmitting radio waves; at least one planar antenna element accommodated within said interior space of said air spoiler arranged on the body of an automotive vehicle so that a principal radio wave receiving plane of said planar antenna is substantially parallel with a surface of the body and faces said portion of the upper surface of said air spoiler made of the dielectric material, said planar antenna element being supported to be rotated about a substantially vertical axis; and driving means accommodated within said interior space of said air spoiler for rotating said planar antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
Specification