Antenna adapted for placement in the window of a vehicle

• US 5,712,645 A
• Filed: 10/06/1995
• Issued: 01/27/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Inventors: Bohlke, Susan N., Brekken, Roger A., Givot, Bradley L., Jellum, Gregory M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Hoanganh T.
• Application Number:
  US08/540,299
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 343/713, 343/711, 343/715, 343/712, 343/795
• US Class Current: 343/713
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10005 laminated safety glass or glazing
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10174 Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2367/00 Polyesters, e.g. PET, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1271 for mounting on windscreens

Abstract

An antenna adapted for placement in the window of a vehicle includes a flexible substrate having a pair of opposing surfaces, at least one of which is provided with electrically conductive metal traces in the form of a pattern configured to receive and transmit one or more electromagnetic signals. The pitch, trace width, and thickness of the metal traces are selected such that the antenna has an area-averaged resistivity of no greater than about 1 ohm/square for a pre-determined area-averaged transmission value in the visible region.

Claims

1. An antenna adapted for placement in the window of a vehicle,

said antenna comprising a flexible substrate having a pair of opposing surfaces, at least one of which is provided with a series of electrically conductive metal traces in the form of a pattern configured to receive and transmit one or more electromagnetic signals,

said metal traces having a structure characterized by a pitch, trace width, and thickness dimensioned to provide said antenna with an area-averaged resistivity of no greater than about 1 ohm/square for a pre-determined area-averaged transmission value in the visible region.

2. An antenna according to claim 1 wherein said antenna has an area-averaged resistivity of no greater than about 0.5 ohm/square.

3. An antenna according to claim 1 wherein said pre-determined area-averaged transmission value in the visible region is at least about 10%.

4. An antenna according to claim 1 further comprising electrically conductive metal traces for grounding said antenna.

5. An antenna according to claim 1 wherein said metal traces comprise copper traces.

6. An antenna according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said surfaces of said substrate further comprises a primer on which at least a portion of said metal traces are located.

7. An antenna according to claim 6 wherein said primer comprises a metal alloy.

8. An antenna according to claim 1 wherein said pattern comprises a grid.

9. An antenna according to claim 1 further comprising a first colored topcoat overlying at least a portion of said metal traces.

10. An antenna according to claim 9 further comprising a second colored topcoat on the opposing surface of said substrate.

11. An antenna according to claim 1 wherein said pattern is configured to receive and transmit AM and FM radio signals.

12. An antenna according to claim 1 wherein said pattern is configured to receive and transmit a television signal.

13. An antenna according to claim 1 wherein said pattern is configured to receive and transmit a microwave signal.

14. A method for enabling a vehicle having one or more windows to receive and transmit one or more electromagnetic signals comprising incorporating in a window of said vehicle an antenna comprising a flexible substrate having a pair of opposed surfaces on at least one of which is provided electrically conductive metal traces in the form of a pattern configured to receive and transmit one or more electromagnetic signals,

said metal traces having a structure characterized by a pitch, trace width, and thickness dimensioned to provide said antenna with an area-averaged resistivity of no greater than about 1 ohm/square for a pre-determined area-averaged transmission value in the visible region.

15. A method according to claim 14 comprising affixing said antenna to a portion of the surface of said window.

16. A method according to claim 14 comprising incorporating said antenna within said window.

17. A method according to claim 14 wherein said vehicle comprises a windshield having a shade band area, said method comprising incorporating said antenna in said shade band area of said windshield.