Antenna device for vehicles

• US 6,078,294 A
• Filed: 08/27/1998
• Issued: 06/20/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Mitarai, Koichi
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HOANGANH T
• Application Number:
  US09/141,262
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 343/713, 343/711, 343/712, 343/700 MS, 343/714, 455/345
• US Class Current: 343/713
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3266 using the mirror of the vehicle

Abstract

A TV antenna assembly is constituted by a first belt-like antenna element and a second linear antenna element, and is stuck in a loop onto the inner surface of a door mirror case. Improved characteristics are obtained owing to a combination of the capacitance feature of the first antenna element and the inductance feature of the second antenna element. The wiring is easily routed since the antenna assembly is connected to the side of the car body through the second antenna element. The GPS antenna assembly is arranged on the rear side of the mirror.

Claims

1. An antenna device for vehicles comprising:

an antenna assembly installed in a vehicle door mirror case, with a mirror installed in the door mirror case, said mirror possessing a periphery and said door mirror case having a rim, said antenna assembly being arranged on the rim inside the door mirror case in surrounding relation to the periphery of the mirror; and

said antenna assembly including a first antenna element possessing a greater width than thickness and a second antenna element, said second antenna element being connected in series to the first antenna element.

2. The antenna device for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein said first antenna element possesses a back surface that is secured to the rim inside the door mirror case and said second antenna element is arranged on the rim of the door mirror case inward of an end of the door mirror case that is to be attached to the vehicle.

3. The antenna device for vehicles according to claim 2, wherein one end of a connecting cable that is connected to a receiver inside the vehicle is connected to said second antenna element.

4. The antenna device for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein the mirror includes a reflective surface that is electrically conductive.

5. The antenna device for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein said second antenna element has a cross-sectional shape that is different from a cross-sectional shape of the first antenna element.

6. An antenna device for vehicles comprising:

an antenna assembly installed in a door mirror case of a vehicle, with a mirror housed in the door mirror case, said mirror having a mirror surface, said antenna assembly including a GPS antenna for receiving global positioning system carriers, said GPS antenna being located rearwardly of the mirror in the door mirror case so as to be oriented upward;

a motor-operated actuator installed in the door mirror case and operatively associated with the mirror to change an angle of the mirror surface of said mirror; and

said GPS antenna being positioned behind a vehicle front side of said mirror and inward in a direction toward a center of the vehicle from said motor-operated actuator so as to be hidden by said motor-operated actuator when viewed from outside.

7. The antenna device for vehicles according to claim 6, wherein said GPS antenna is a microstrip antenna including an antenna patch of a thin film and supplied with power at two points on the antenna patch.

8. An antenna device for vehicles comprising:

an antenna assembly installed in a door mirror case of a vehicle, with a mirror housed in said door mirror case, said mirror possessing a periphery, said antenna assembly including a GPS antenna for receiving global positioning system carriers, said GPS antenna being located rearwardly of the mirror so as to be oriented upward;

a motor-operated actuator installed in the door mirror case and operatively associated with the mirror to change an angle of the mirror surface of said mirror; and

said GPS antenna being positioned behind a vehicle front side of said mirror above said motor-operated actuator so as to be hidden by said motor-operated actuator when viewed from a position below the mirror.

9. An antenna device for vehicles comprising:

at least two antenna assemblies installed in a vehicle door mirror case, with a mirror mounted in said door mirror case and supported on a support body, said mirror possessing a periphery and said door mirror case being provided with a rim, said at least two antenna assemblies including a first antenna assembly for receiving TV broadcasting carriers, said first antenna assembly being arranged on the rim inside the door mirror case in a manner substantially surrounding the periphery of the mirror, and

a second antenna assembly for receiving global positioning system carriers, said second antenna assembly being located rearwardly of the mirror and the support body in the door mirror case so as to be oriented upward.