GPS antenna unit for two-wheeled motor vehicle

• US 6,778,143 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2002
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Morita, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEN, SHIH CHAO
• Application Number:
  US10/083,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20020120399A1
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/711, 343/713, 343/895, 701/213, 701/214
• US Class Current: 343/713
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/006 having two wheels only
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0444 Antenna structures, control or arrangements thereof, e.g. for directional antennas, diversity antenna, antenna multiplexing or antennas integrated in fenders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3266 using the mirror of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 11/08 Helical antennas

Abstract

A GPS antenna unit for a two-wheeled motor vehicle capable of being mounted to the vehicle without impairing the appearance of the vehicle. A GPS antenna unit for a two-wheeled motor vehicle, mounted to the two-wheeled motor vehicle to receive a radio wave from a GPS satellite includes a helical antenna extending from an exterior surface of a unit case and a controller accommodated within the unit case to process the radio wave received by the helical antenna. Since the projection area of the helical antenna is small, the GPS antenna can be mounted even to a two-wheeled motor vehicle having few planar portions facing the zenith, without impairing the appearance and aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A GPS antenna unit for mounting on a two-wheeled motor vehicle for receiving a radio wave from a GPS satellite, comprising:

a unit case including an interior portion and an exterior surface;

a helical antenna extending from the exterior surface of the unit case; and

a controller accommodated within said interior portion of said unit case for processing radio waves received by said helical antenna; and

a body for the two-wheeled motor vehicle,

wherein said body includes a space for holding said unit case in a predetermined posture so that said helical antenna protrudes through an aperture of said body and faces a zenith when said two-wheeled motor vehicle is in a regular posture.

2. A GPS antenna unit for mounting to a two-wheeled motor vehicle for receiving a radio wave from a GPS satellite, comprising:

a unit case including an interior portion and an exterior surface;

a helical antenna extending from the exterior surface of the unit case;

a controller accommodated within said interior portion of said unit case for processing the radio wave received by said helical antenna; and

a component for the two-wheeled motor vehicle, said component holding said unit case;

wherein said component for the two-wheeled motor vehicle holds said unit case in a predetermined posture so that said helical antenna faces a zenith when said component is attached to the two-wheeled motor vehicle in a regular posture thereof.

3. The GPS antenna unit for a two-wheeled motor vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said component for the two-wheeled motor vehicle is a side mirror and said unit case is incorporated in said side mirror.

4. The GPS antenna unit for a two-wheeled motor vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said component for the two-wheeled motor vehicle is a cowl and said unit case is mounted inside said cowl.

5. The GPS antenna unit for a two-wheeled motor vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said component for the two-wheeled motor vehicle is a fender and said unit case is mounted inside said fender.

6. The GPS antenna unit for a two-wheeled motor vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said component for the two-wheeled motor vehicle is a headlight and said unit case is incorporated in said headlight.

7. The GPS antenna unit for a two-wheeled motor vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said component for the two-wheeled motor vehicle is a meter panel and said unit case is incorporated in said meter panel.

8. A GPS antenna unit for mounting on a motor vehicle for receiving a radio wave from a GPS satellite, comprising:

a unit case including an interior portion and an exterior surface;

a helical antenna extending from the exterior surface of the unit case;

a controller accommodated within said interior portion of said unit case for processing the radio wave received by said helical antenna; and

a component secured to the motor vehicle, said component including an interior space for holding and positioning said unit case, said helical antenna extending from the exterior surface of the unit case and projecting out from the interior space through an aperture to an outer side of the component for receiving radio waves;

wherein said component for the vehicle positions said unit case in a predetermined posture for orienting said helical antenna to face a zenith when said unit case is secured to said component and said component is attached to the motor vehicle in a regular posture thereof.

9. The GPS antenna unit for a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said component for the vehicle is a side mirror and said unit case is positioned within a casing for said side mirror.

10. The GPS antenna unit for a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said component for the vehicle is a cowl and said unit case is mounted inside said cowl.

11. The GPS antenna unit for a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said component for the vehicle is a fender and said unit case is mounted inside said fender.

12. The GPS antenna unit for a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said component for the vehicle is a headlight and said unit case is positioned within a casing for said headlight.

13. The GPS antenna unit for a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said component for the vehicle is a meter panel and said unit case is positioned within a casing for said meter panel.