Antenna mounting system

• US 6,509,878 B1
• Filed: 04/02/2001
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pulse Electronics Incorporated (Yageo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Radiall/Larsen Antenna Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Sherman, Douglas W., Tornatta, Paul Anthony Jr., Hoo, Kee Kean
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan
• Application Number:
  US09/825,089
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 343/715, 343/711, 343/712, 343/713, 343/906, 343/878, 343/882, 248/514, 248/539
• US Class Current: 343/715
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1214 through a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3275 mounted on a horizontal surface of the vehicle, e.g. on roof, hood, trunk

Abstract

An antenna mounting system includes a first mount having a positioning portion adapted to extend through an opening in a vehicle panel to position and hold the first mount relative to the vehicle panel, a second mount adapted to be disposed adjacent the opposite surface of the vehicle panel, and a connector adapted to couple the first and second mounts to each other. A conductive plate associated with one of the mounts forms a capacitive coupling with the vehicle panel and in conjunction with an inductor or resistor provides a selected resistance to ground. A connector screw in the system has a weakened section which during installation will break should excessive forces be applied thereto, thus to protect other components in the system.

Claims

1. An antenna mounting system comprising

a first mount adapted to be disposed adjacent one surface of a vehicle panel and having a positioning portion adapted to extend through an opening in the vehicle panel,

a second mount adapted to be disposed adjacent a surface of the vehicle panel opposite said one surface,

a connector adapted to couple said first and second mounts to each other, and

a conductive plate associated with one of said mounts adapted to form a capacitive coupling with said vehicle panel when positioned adjacent one of said surfaces.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the capacitive coupling comprises said conductive plate, the vehicle panel, and an insulator positioned between the plate and panel.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said insulator comprises a layer of paint.

4. The system of claim 1, which further comprises an antenna assembly attached to said first mount and electrically coupled to the conductive plate.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said antenna is connected to electrical ground through said capacitive coupling, and said capacitive coupling and antenna are connected in parallel with an inductor.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said antenna is connected to electrical ground through said capacitive coupling, and said capacitive coupling and antenna are connected in parallel with a resister.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the positioning portion of said first mount comprises a positioning projection adapted to position the first mount in a predetermined position with respect to the opening formed in the vehicle panel, and a catch member adapted to releasably attach the first mount to the vehicle panel.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the opening formed in the vehicle panel has a first edge margin and a second edge margin spaced therefrom, a lip on said positioning portion is positioned to engage said first edge margin and said catch member is positioned to engage said second edge margin.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said first edge margin has a concave configuration and said positioning projection has a complementary convex arcuate portion and said lip extends outwardly from said arcuate portion and is adapted to engage said opposite vehicle panel surface.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said first edge margin is semi-circular and said positioning projection is formed as an arc of a circle which is less than a semi-circle.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein said first mount comprises a main body portion, said catch member projects outwardly from said main body portion and has a catch tang adapted to engage said opposite surface of the vehicle panel, said catch member being resiliently mounted on said main body portion and having an at-rest portion relative to the main body portion, whereby the catch member may be urged from its at-rest position to allow the tang to move past its associated edge margin of the opening during mounting and then snap back toward its at-rest position to engage said opposite surface of the vehicle panel surface.

12. The system of claim 11, which further comprise a backing post projecting outwardly from said main body portion adjacent the side of said catch member opposite said catch tang, said backing post being spaced from said catch member a distance slightly greater than the distance which said catch tang projects to limit the distance which the catch member may be moved from its at-rest position in the direction of said backing post.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said first mount is composed of an electrically non-conductive material, said connector comprises a conductive nut on said first mount and a conductive screw extending from said second mount and screwed into said nut, and said nut is electrically connected to said conductive plate.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said screw is adapted to have an antenna attached thereto and said nut has a threaded bore which is disposed at a compound angle relative to the body of the nut to provide desired positioning for an antenna which may be connected to said screw.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said connector comprises an elongate screw which has a weakened section intermediate its ends adapted to break if torsional forces over a pre-selected level are applied to the screw.

16. The system of claim 1, which further comprises an elastomeric seal member adapted to be interposed between said second mount and a vehicle panel surface, said connector comprises a screw connector adapted to draw said second member toward said panel surface during installation, and said second mount comprises an engaging portion positioned to be spaced a selected distance from said first mount when said seal member is interposed between the second mount and the vehicle panel surface in an uncompressed state and to engage a portion of said first mount to inhibit movement of the second mount toward the panel surface beyond a pre-selected point to achieve selected seal member compression.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein said first mount and said second mount comprise inter-engaging elements operable to maintain selected relative position between said first and second mounts upon installation and relative to said vehicle panel.

18. An antenna mounting system comprising

a first mount having means adapted for inserting through an opening in a vehicle panel with a major portion of the mount adjacent one surface of the panel,

means for retaining the first mount in a predetermined position relative to said opening,

a second mount,

means for attaching the second mount to the first mount with a major portion of the second mount adjacent the surface of the panel opposite said one surface, and

means for attaching an antenna to one of said mounts and means for electrically coupling such antenna to electrical ground through a capacitive coupling.

19. The system of claim 18, which further comprises a conductive member and means for positioning said conductive member adjacent one of the surfaces of the vehicle panel to produce a capacitive coupling between the conductive member and the vehicle panel.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the means for retaining the first mount comprises a snap-catch fitting.

21. The antenna mounting system of claim 18, wherein the means for retaining the first mount comprises a positioning portion having a projecting lip adapted to engage an edge margin of the vehicle panel on the surface of the panel opposite said one surface.

22. The antenna mounting system of claim 21, wherein the positioning portion and the projecting lip have a convex configuration.

23. An antenna mounting system comprising

a first mount adapted to be disposed adjacent one surface of a vehicle panel and having a positioning portion adapted to extend through an opening in the vehicle panel, the positioning portion comprising a positioning projection adapted to position the first mount in a predetermined position with respect to the opening formed in the vehicle panel, and a snap-catch fitting adapted to releasably attach the first mount to the vehicle panel,

a second mount adapted to be disposed adjacent a surface of the vehicle panel opposite said one surface, and

a connector adapted to couple said first and second mounts to each other.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the opening formed in the vehicle panel has a first edge margin and a second edge margin spaced from said first edge margin, said positioning projection is positioned on said first mount to engage said first edge margin and said catch member is positioned to engage said second edge margin.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said first edge margin has a concave configuration and said positioning projection has a complementary convex portion and a projecting lip extending from said arcuate portion and adapted to engage said opposite vehicle panel surface.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein said first edge margin is semi-circular and said positioning projection is formed in an arc of a circle which is less than a semi-circle.

27. The system of claim 26, which further comprise a backing post projecting outwardly from said main body portion adjacent the side of said catch member opposite said catch tang, said backing post being spaced from said catch member a distance slightly greater than the distance which said catch tang projects to limit the distance which the catch member may be moved from it at-rest position in the direction of said backing post.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein said first mount comprises a main body portion, said catch member projects outwardly from said main body portion and has a catch tang adapted to engage said opposite surface of the vehicle panel, said catch member being resiliently mounted on said main body portion and having an at-rest position relative to the main body portion whereby the catch member may be urged from its at rest position to allow the tang to move past its associated edge margin of the opening during mounting and then snap back toward its at-rest position to engage said opposite surface of the vehicle panel surface.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein said connector comprises an elongate screw which has a weakened section intermediate its ends adapted to break if torsional forces over a pre-selected level are applied to the screw.

30. The system of claim 23, which further comprises an elastomeric seal member adapted to be interposed between said second mount and a vehicle panel surface, said connector comprises a screw connector adapted to draw said second member toward said panel surface during installation, and said second mount comprises an engaging portion positioned to be spaced a selected distance from said first mount when said seal member is interposed between the second mount and the vehicle panel surface in an uncompressed state and to engage a portion of said first mount to inhibit movement of the second mount toward the panel surface beyond a pre-selected point to achieve selected seal member compression.

31. The system of claim 23, wherein said first mount and said second mount comprise inter-engaging elements operable to maintain selected relative position between said first and second mounts upon installation.

32. The system of claim 23, which further comprises a conductive plate associated with one of said mounts adapted to form a capacitive coupling with said vehicle panel when positioned adjacent one of said surfaces.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the capacitive coupling comprises said conductive plate, the vehicle panel, and a dielectric insulator positioned between the plate and panel.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein said insulator comprises a layer of paint.

35. The system of claim 32, which further comprises an antenna assembly attached to said first mount and electrically coupled to the conductive plate.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein said antenna is connected to electrical ground through said capacitive coupling, and said capacitive coupling and antenna are connected in parallel with an inductor.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the impedance from the antenna to electrical ground is less than 10 Kohms.

38. The system of claim 35, wherein said antenna assembly is connected to electrical ground through said capacitive coupling, and said capacitive coupling and antenna are connected in parallel with a resistor.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the resistance of the resistor is less than 10 Kohms.

40. The system of claim 32, wherein said first mount is composed of an electrically non-conductive material, said connector comprises a conductive nut on said first mount and a conductive screw extending from said second mount and screwed into said nut, and said nut is electrically connected to said conductive plate.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein said screw is adapted to have an antenna attached thereto and said nut has a threaded bore which is disposed at a compound angle relative to the body of the nut to provide desired positioning for an antenna which may be connected to said screw.

42. A method for attaching an antenna mount to a vehicle panel comprising the steps of

placing a first mount adjacent one surface of the vehicle panel,

inserting a positioning portion of the first mount through an opening formed in the panel,

retaining the first mount in a predetermined position relative to the panel, and

placing a second mount adjacent a surface of the vehicle panel opposite said one surface and coupling the second mount to the first mount.

43. The method of claim 42, which further comprises providing a conductive plate associated with one of said mounts and placing said conductive plate adjacent the vehicle panel with an insulator therebetween to produce a capacitive coupling with said vehicle panel.

44. The method of claim 43, which further comprises providing an inductor and connecting said capacitive coupling and inductor to electrical ground in parallel.

45. The method of claim 43, which further comprises providing a resistor and connection said capacitive coupling and resistor to electrical ground in parallel.

46. The method of claim 42, which further comprises providing a snap-lock connector on said first mount and upon inserting portions of said first mount through said opening actuating said snap-lock to retain the first mount in said predetermined position relative to said panel.

47. The method of-claim 42, which further comprises providing a screw connector and wherein the coupling of said first and second mounts includes a step of drawings said first and second mounts toward each other on opposite surfaces of the vehicle panel.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein said screw connector is disposed at an angle relative to the vehicle panel and on being tightened urges the first and second mount in opposite directions along paths extending substantially parallel to the vehicle panel to draw engaging portions of the first and second mounts into engagement with each other.

49. An antenna mounting system comprising

a first mount adapted to be disposed adjacent one surface of a vehicle panel and having a positioning portion adapted to extend through an opening in the vehicle panel, the positioning portion comprising a positioning projection adapted to position the first mount in a predetermined position with respect to the opening formed in the vehicle panel, and an attaching catch member adapted to releasably attach the first mount to the vehicle panel,

a second mount adapted to be disposed adjacent a surface of the vehicle panel opposite said one surface, and

a connector adapted to couple said first and second mounts to each other,

wherein the opening formed in the vehicle panel has a first edge margin and a second edge margin spaced from said first edge margin, said positioning projection is positioned on said first mount to engage said first edge margin and said catch member is positioned to engage said second edge margin.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein said first edge margin has a concave configuration and said positioning projection has a complementary convex portion and a projecting lip extending from said arcuate portion and adapted to engage said opposite vehicle panel surface.

51. The system of claim 49, wherein said first edge margin is semi-circular and said positioning projection is formed in an arc of a circle which is less than a semi-circle.

52. The system of claim 51, which further comprise a backing post projecting outwardly from said main body portion adjacent the side of said catch member opposite said catch tang, said backing post being spaced from said catch member a distance slightly greater than the distance which said catch tang projects to limit the distance which the catch member may be moved from it at-rest position in the direction of said backing post.

53. The system of claim 49, wherein said first mount comprises a main body portion, said catch member projects outwardly from said main body portion and has a catch tang adapted to engage said opposite surface of the vehicle panel, said catch member being resiliently mounted on said main body portion and having an at-rest position relative to the main body portion whereby the catch member may be urged from its at rest position to allow the tang to move past its associated edge margin of the opening during mounting and then snap back toward its at-rest position to engage said opposite surface of the vehicle panel surface.

54. An antenna mounting system comprising

a first mount adapted to be disposed adjacent one surface of a vehicle panel and having a positioning portion adapted to extend through an opening in the vehicle panel, the positioning portion comprising a positioning projection adapted to position the first mount in a predetermined position with respect to the opening formed in the vehicle panel, and an attaching catch member adapted to releasably attach the first mount to the vehicle panel,

a second mount adapted to be disposed adjacent a surface of the vehicle panel opposite said one surface, and

a connector adapted to couple said first and second mounts to each other,

wherein said connector comprises an elongate screw which has a weakened section intermediate its ends adapted to break if torsional forces over a pre-selected level are applied to the screw.

55. An antenna mounting system comprising

a first mount adapted to be disposed adjacent one surface of a vehicle panel and having a positioning portion adapted to extend through an opening in the vehicle panel, the positioning portion comprising a positioning projection adapted to position the first mount in a predetermined position with respect to the opening formed in the vehicle panel, and an attaching catch member adapted to releasably attach the first mount to the vehicle panel,

a second mount adapted to be disposed adjacent a surface of the vehicle panel opposite said one surface,

a connector adapted to couple said first and second mounts to each other, and

an elastomeric seal member adapted to be interposed between said second mount and a vehicle panel surface, said connector comprises a screw connector adapted to draw said second member toward said panel surface during installation, and said second mount comprises an engaging portion positioned to be spaced a selected distance from said first mount when said seal member is interposed between the second mount and the vehicle panel surface in an uncompressed state and to engage a portion of said first mount to inhibit movement of the second mount toward the panel surface beyond a pre-selected point to achieve selected seal member compression.

56. An antenna mounting system comprising

a first mount adapted to be disposed adjacent one surface of a vehicle panel and having a positioning portion adapted to extend through an opening in the vehicle panel, the positioning portion comprising a positioning projection adapted to position the first mount in a predetermined position with respect to the opening formed in the vehicle panel, and an attaching catch member adapted to releasably attach the first mount to the vehicle panel,

a second mount adapted to be disposed adjacent a surface of the vehicle panel opposite said one surface,

a connector adapted to couple said first and second mounts to each other,

a conductive plate associated with one of said mounts adapted to form a capacitive coupling with said vehicle panel when positioned adjacent one of said surfaces, and

an antenna assembly attached to said first mount and electrically coupled to the conductive plate,

wherein said antenna is connected to electrical ground through said capacitive coupling, and said capacitive coupling and antenna are connected in parallel with an inductor.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the impedance from the antenna to electrical ground is less than 10 Kohms.

58. An antenna mounting system comprising a first mount adapted to be disposed adjacent one surface of a vehicle panel and having a positioning portion adapted to extend through an opening in the vehicle panel, the positioning portion comprising a positioning projection adapted to position the first mount in a predetermined position with respect to the opening formed in the vehicle panel, and an attaching catch member adapted to releasably attach the first mount to the vehicle panel,

a second mount adapted to be disposed adjacent a surface of the vehicle panel opposite said one surface,

a connector adapted to couple said first and second mounts to each other,

a conductive plate associated with one of said mounts adapted to form a capacitive coupling with said vehicle panel when positioned adjacent one of said surfaces, and

an antenna assembly attached to said first mount and electrically coupled to the conductive plate,

wherein said antenna assembly is connected to electrical ground through said capacitive coupling, and said capacitive coupling and antenna are connected in parallel with a resistor.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein the resistance of the resistor is less than 10 Kohms.

60. An antenna mounting system comprising

a first mount adapted to be disposed adjacent one surface of a vehicle panel and having a positioning portion adapted to extend through an opening in the vehicle panel, the positioning portion comprising a positioning projection adapted to position the first mount in a predetermined position with respect to the opening formed in the vehicle panel, and an attaching catch member adapted to releasably attach the first mount to the vehicle panel,

a second mount adapted to be disposed adjacent a surface of the vehicle panel opposite said one surface,

a connector adapted to couple said first and second mounts to each other, and

a conductive plate associated with one of said mounts adapted to form a capacitive coupling with said vehicle panel when positioned adjacent one of said surfaces,

wherein said first mount is composed of an electrically non-conductive material, said connector comprises a conductive nut on said first mount and a conductive screw extending from said second mount and screwed into said nut, and said nut is electrically connected to said conductive plate.

61. The system of claim 60 wherein said screw is adapted to have an antenna attached thereto and said nut has a threaded bore which is disposed at a compound angle relative to the body of the nut to provide desired positioning for an antenna which may be connected to said screw.

62. An antenna mounting system comprising

a first mount adapted to be disposed adjacent one surface of a vehicle panel and having a positioning portion adapted to extend through an opening in the vehicle panel,

a second mount adapted to be disposed adjacent a surface of the vehicle panel opposite said one surface,

a connector adapted to couple said first and second mounts to each other,

an antenna assembly attached to said first mount, said antenna assembly being connected to electrical ground, and

an inductor or resistor connected in parallel with said antenna to said electrical ground.