Radio antenna arrangement with a patch antenna for mounting on or adjacent to the windshield of a vehicle

• US 5,973,648 A
• Filed: 10/14/1997
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fuba Automotive GmbH & Co. KG. (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: FUBA Automotive GmbH
• Inventors: Hopf, Jochen, Lindenmeier, Heinz, Kronberger, Rainer, Reiner, Leopold
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Hoanganh
• Application Number:
  US08/943,289
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 343/713, 343/725, 343/729, 343/700 MS, 343/711, 343/712, 343/715
• US Class Current: 343/713
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1271 for mounting on windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3275 mounted on a horizontal surface of the vehicle, e.g. on roof, hood, trunk
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system

Abstract

A multiband radio antenna arrangement for use in two way radio communication for (UHF) and (SHF) frequencies. The antenna arrangement contains at least one emitter antenna mounted on the outside of the motor vehicle adjacent to an upper edge of the vehicle'"'"'s windshield near its roof. Supporting the emitter antenna is a base plate secured adjacent to the roof of the vehicle, the baseplate being electrically conductive and serving as the electrical ground plane for the emitter antenna. A thin antenna line feeds into the antenna and extends from a connection point on the baseplate to the upper edge of the windshield where it is bent and then extended on the inside surface of the windshield through an adhesive bead of the window and into the interior of the vehicle. In addition, connected to the baseplate is a patch antenna connected to the antenna line, the patch antenna for receiving an additional radio communication service. The emitter antenna connects to the antenna line on the baseplate at an emitter connection point. The patch antenna connects to the antenna line on the baseplate at a patch antenna connection point. The combination of the emitter antenna, the antenna line, and a patch antenna are linked to a base plate, to form a combination antenna for multiple band radio communications.

Claims

1. A multiband radio antenna arrangement for use in two way radio communication for UHF and SHF frequencies in a motor vehicle comprising:

at least two emitter antennas forming a first emitter antenna and at least one additional emitter antenna mounted on the outside of the motor vehicle adjacent to an upper edge of the vehicle'"'"'s windshield near its roof;

a base-plate secured adjacent to the roof of the vehicle, said emitter antennas being mounted on said base plate and projecting therefrom, said baseplate being electrically conductive and serving as the electrical ground plane for said emitter antennas;

at least one thin antenna line extending from a connection point on the baseplate to the upper edge of the windshield where it is bent and then extended on the inside surface of the windshield through an adhesive bead of the window and into the interior of the vehicle;

at least one patch antenna connected to said antenna line for receiving an additional radio communication service, said at least one patch antenna being mounted on said base plate between said first and said at least one additional emitter antennas;

at least one emitter connection point formed by said first emitter antenna and said at least one additional emitter antenna connecting to said baseplate and the antenna line; and

a patch antenna connection point formed by the patch antenna connecting to the base plate and the antenna line wherein said first emitter antenna and said at least one additional emitter antenna, said at least one antenna line, and said at least one patch antenna are linked to said base plate, to form a combination antenna for multiple band radio communications

a network circuit coupled between said first and said at least one additional emitter antennas, and a group antenna connection point formed on said base plate and coupled to the antenna line for radio communications with a two way radio-telephone.

2. A multiband radio antenna arrangement for use in two way radio communication in a motor vehicle comprising:

a) an electrically conductive base plate secured adjacent to the roof of the vehicle;

b) a first emitter antenna mounted on said base plate;

c) at least one additional emitter antenna mounted on said base plate for forming a group antenna with said first emitter antenna;

d) at least one patch antenna mounted on said base plate between said first and said at least one additional emitter antenna;

e) at least one antenna line extending from a connection point on said baseplate into the motor vehicle;

f) at least one emitter antenna connection point formed by said first and said at least one additional emitter antennas connecting to said baseplate and the antenna line wherein said first emitter antenna and said at least one additional emitter antenna form a group antenna; and

g) a patch antenna connection point formed by said at least one patch antenna connecting to said base plate and the antenna line wherein said group antenna, said antenna line and said patch antenna are linked to said baseplate to form a combination antenna for multiband radio communications and said baseplate serves as a ground plane for said group antenna and said patch antenna.

3. The radio antenna arrangement according to claim 2, further comprising a network circuit for coupling said first and said at least one additional emitter antennas together.

4. The radio antenna arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said first emitter antenna, and said at least one additional emitter antenna, are coupled to each other via radiation coupling.

5. The radio antenna arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said first emitter antenna and said at least one additional emitter antenna are vertically orientated bars, and said at least one patch antenna has a center vertical line that coincides with the line of connection of said first emitter antenna.

6. The radio antenna arrangement according to claim 2, further comprising at least one additional antenna line coupled to either said emitter antenna connection point or said patch antenna connection point.

7. The radio antenna arrangement according to claim 6, further comprising at least one bandpass filter connected to said at least one additional antenna line, said at least one bandpass filter passing only signals within the receiving frequency range of said at least one patch antenna.

8. The radio antenna arrangement according to claim 7, wherein said at least one bandpass filter allows said patch antenna to conduct two-way radio telephone communications while shielding radiation from said group antenna.

9. The radio antenna connection arrangement according to claim 6, further comprising at least one low noise pre-amplifier connected to said at least one additional antenna line and further comprising at least one power supply connected to said at least one additional antenna line for powering said at least one low noise pre-amplifier.

10. The radio antenna arrangement according to claim 6, further comprising at least one band elimination filter disposed on said at least one additional antenna line, said at least one band elimination filter for suppressing marginal radiation of the two way radio antenna into said at least one patch antenna, said filter having a band eliminating effect within the frequency range of said at least a one additional emitter antenna.

11. The radio antenna arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said base plate is disposed on a roof of the motor vehicle.

12. The radio antenna arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said base plate is disposed on a rear window of the motor vehicle.