Window mountable UHF mobile antenna system

• US 5,283,589 A
• Filed: 02/05/1992
• Issued: 02/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard Hirschmann Of America, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Richard Hirschmann Of America, Inc.
• Inventors: Blevins, Peter D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mintel, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, PETER T
• Application Number:
  US07/831,577
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 343/713, 343/715, 343/749, 343/745-748, 343/846, 343/860, 333/24 C, 333/32
• US Class Current: 343/715
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1285 with capacitive feeding through the windscreen

Abstract

A UHF mobile radio communications antenna that may be mounted on a vehicle window without drilling into or damaging the surface of the vehicle. An exterior part includes an antenna element and a resonant coupling circuit, and may be removably mounted to the exterior of the vehicle window. An interior part includes a resonant coupling circuit and a ground counterpoise, and may be removably mounted to the interior of the same window and positioned in alignment with the exterior part. The exterior and interior parts are in radio frequency communication by electromagnetic coupling therebetween. The interior part functions additionally as a radio frequency ground counterpoise independent of any vehicle metal. The interior part is adapted for connection to a mobile radio transceiver by coaxial cable. No post installation tuning of the invention is required and, thus, the invention may be easily installed without special skills. Use of adhesive pads for attachment of the interior and exterior parts to the vehicle window allows easy removal therefrom and without damage thereto.

Claims

1. A UHF band antenna system for mobile vehicular communications using radio frequency signals, comprising:

an exterior antenna part having a first UHF band resonant coupling circuit;

a locally referenced, isolating interior counterpoise part having a second UHF band resonant coupling circuit, wherein said second UHF band resonant circuit is a cavity backed monopole and wherein both exterior and interior parts are configured to attach to respective exterior and interior surfaces, of a vehicle window such that said first and second resonant coupling circuits electromagnetically communicate ultra high frequency band signals between said exterior and interior parts and wherein said interior and exterior parts are inductively coupled.

2. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the exterior antenna part comprises:

an antenna element having top and bottom ends;

an angle adjusting mechanism having first and second parts, said first part attached to said antenna element bottom end;

a first enclosure fixedly attached to said angle adjusting mechanism second part;

a first printed circuit board having a first printed circuit inductor, said first printed circuit board enclosed within said first enclosure and forming a face therewith opposite said angle adjusting mechanism; and

said first printed circuit inductor connected to said antenna element bottom end forming a resonant circuit therewith, wherein said first printed circuit inductor is part of the first resonant coupling circuit.

3. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the interior counterpoise part comprises:

an enclosure having an electrically conductive surface, at least partly defining said cavity;

a printed circuit board having a printed circuit board inductor forming a part of said cavity backed monapole, said printed circuit board enclosure within said enclosure and forming a face therewith;

a coaxial cable having an inner conductor and outer shield conductor, said coaxial cable inner and outer conductors connected to said printed circuit board inductor and said enclosure conductive surface, respectively;

said printed circuit board inductor connected to said enclosure conductive surface forming a resonant circuit therewith, wherein said printed circuit board inductor is part of the second resonant coupling circuit.

4. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the interior counterpoise part is connected to a radio transceiver by coaxial cable.

5. The antenna system of claim 1, further comprising adhesive pads attached to said exterior and interior parts.

6. The antenna system of claim 2, wherein said first printed circuit board further comprises a strip inductor.

7. The antenna system of claim 3, wherein said printed circuit board further comprises a strip inductor.

8. The antenna system of claim 4, wherein the coaxial cable is impedance matched in connecting to said interior part.

9. The antenna system of claim 4, wherein said interior counterpoise is configured to prevent radio frequency energy radiating from the coaxial cable outer shield.

10. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein said first and second resonant coupling circuits are nonadjustable after installation.

11. The antenna system of claim 2, wherein the antenna element is an approximately one half wave vertical element.

12. The antenna system of claim 2, wherein the antenna element is a collinear phased vertical element.

13. The antenna system of claim 3, wherein the electrically conductive surface is conductive copper screen.

14. The antenna system of claim 3, wherein the electrically conductive surface is conductive foil.

15. The antenna system of claim 3, wherein the electrically conductive surface is a conductive coating on the inside of said enclosure.

16. A UHF band antenna system for mobile vehicular communications using radio frequency signals, comprising:

an antenna element having top and bottom ends;

an angle adjusting mechanism having first and second parts, said first part attached to said antenna element bottom end;

a first enclosure fixedly attached to said angle adjusting mechanism second part;

a first printed circuit board having a first printed circuit inductor, wherein said first printed circuit board is received in said first enclosure;

said first printed circuit inductor connected to said antenna element bottom end forming a resonant circuit therewith, wherein said first printed circuit inductor is used in a first resonant coupling circuit;

a second enclosure having an electrically conductive surface;

a second printed circuit board having a second printed circuit inductor received in said second enclosure;

a coaxial cable having an inner conductor and outer shield conductor, said coaxial cable inner and outer conductors connected to said second printed circuit board inductor and said second enclosure conductive surface, respectively;

said second printed circuit board inductor is connected to said electrically conductive surface of said second enclosure forming a resonant circuit therewith and forming a locally referenced, isolating cavity backed monopole, wherein said second printed circuit board inductor is used in a second resonant coupling circuit;

said first enclosure is mounted proximally to said second enclosure such that said first and second resonant coupling circuits electromagnetically communicate ultra high frequency band signals between said antenna element and said coaxial cable.

17. A UHF antenna band system for mobile vehicular communications using radio frequency signals, comprising:

an antenna element having top and bottom ends;

an angle adjusting mechanism having first and second parts, said first part attached to said antenna element bottom end;

a first enclosure fixedly attached to said angle adjusting mechanism second part;

a first printed circuit board having a strip inductor, wherein said first printed circuit board is received in said first enclosure;

said first printed circuit inductor connected to said antenna element bottom end forming a resonant circuit therewith, wherein said first printed circuit inductor is part of a first resonant coupling circuit;

a second enclosure mounted proximally to said first enclosure and having an electrically conductive surface;

a second printed circuit board having a strip inductor received in said second enclosure;

a coaxial cable having an inner conductor and outer shield conductor, said coaxial cable inner and outer conductors connected to said second printed circuit board inductor and said second enclosure conductive surface, respectively;

said second printed circuit board inductor is connected to said electrically conductive surface of said second enclosure forming a resonant circuit therewith and forming a cavity backed monopole, wherein said second printed circuit board inductor is part of a second resonant coupling circuit.