Testing a built-in windshield antenna

• US 5,864,319 A
• Filed: 07/07/1997
• Issued: 01/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pilkington Automotive Deutschland GmbH (Pilkington PLC)
• Original Assignee: Flachglas Automotive GmbH
• Inventors: Paulus, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HOANGANH T
• Application Number:
  US08/888,984
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 343/703, 343/713, 343/704, 324/503, 324/505
• US Class Current: 343/703
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/10 Radiation diagrams of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1271 for mounting on windscreens

Abstract

An antenna pane has a transparent sheet in which is imbedded a plurality of conductors at least some of which serve as antennas. It is tested by applying a test signal to one of the conductors and thereby transmitting the test signal from the one conductor, receiving the test signal with the other conductors serving as antennas, and evaluating the test signal received by the other conductors serving as antennas. The conductors serving as antennas of the pane are connected to a diversity processor and therethrough with a receiver. The test signal is produced by a signal generator operated by the diversity processor.

Claims

1. A method of testing an antenna pane comprised of a transparent sheet in which is imbedded a plurality of conductors at least some of which serve as antennas, the method comprising the steps of:

applying a test signal to one of the conductors and thereby transmitting the test signal from the one conductor;

receiving the test signal with the other conductors serving as antennas; and

evaluating the test signal received by the other conductors serving as antennas.

2. The antenna-pane testing method defined in claim 1 wherein the conductors serving as antennas of the pane are connected to a diversity processor and therethrough with a receiver, the method further comprising the step of

producing the test signal with a signal generator operated by the diversity processor.

3. The antenna-pane testing method defined in claim 1 wherein the one conductor is galvanically separated from the other conductors.

4. The antenna-pane testing method defined in claim 1 wherein the one conductor is a heating-wire grid.

5. The antenna-pane testing method defined in claim 1 wherein the one conductor is a test antenna serving solely for testing the antenna pane.

6. The antenna-pane testing method defined in claim 1 wherein the one conductor serves as an antenna during normal operation of the antenna pane.

7. The antenna-pane testing method defined in claim 1 wherein the one conductor serves as an AM antenna.

8. The antenna-pane testing method defined in claim 1 wherein the signal is a steep-flank square wave.

9. An apparatus for testing an antenna pane comprised of a transparent sheet in which is imbedded a plurality of conductors at least some of which serve as antennas and which are connected through respective switches operated by a diversity processor, the apparatus comprising:

a signal generator connected to the diversity processor for applying a test signal to one of the conductors and thereby transmitting the test signal from the one conductor; and

means including a receiver connected to the diversity processor for receiving the test signal with the other conductors serving as antennas and for evaluating the test signal received by the other conductors serving as antennas.

10. The testing apparatus defined in claim 9, further comprising

means including a control circuit connected between the receiver and the signal generator for selecting which of the other antennas to evaluate.

11. The testing apparatus defined in claim 9, further comprising

a diagnostic computer connected with the receiver.

12. The testing apparatus defined in claim 9, further comprising

a diagnostic computer connected with the diversity processor.