Low profile antenna for remote vehicle communication system

• US 7,050,011 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2003
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Ghabra, Riad, Petros, Argy, Tang, Qingfeng, Summerford, Jason T.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, THUY V
• Application Number:
  US10/749,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20050146468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/702, 343/705, 343711-713, 343/825, 343/829, 343/830, 343844-846, 343/848, 343/850, 343904-905
• US Class Current: 343/711
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3241 particular used in keyless entry systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0421 with a shorting wall or a shorting pin at one end of the element H01Q9/0414 takes precedence

Abstract

A low profile antenna for use in a vehicle remote communication system in accordance with the present invention includes a printed circuit board having a copper ground plane mounted on a first side thereof. A dielectric spacer is mounted to the first side of the printed circuit board. A lineal antenna trace is disposed on the dielectric spacer. The antenna also includes a transmission line having first and second signal conductors. The first conductor is coupled to a feed point on the lineal antenna trace and the second conductor is coupled to both the ground plane and a second point on the lineal antenna trace spaced from the feed point.

Claims

1. A low profile antenna for use in a vehicle remote communication system utilizing a predetermined RF signal, comprising:

a printed circuit board having a ground plane mounted on a first side thereof;

a dielectric spacer mounted to said first side of said printed circuit board;

a lineal antenna trace disposed on said dielectric spacer; and

a transmission line having first and second signal conductors, said first conductor being coupled to a feed point on said lineal antenna trace and said second conductor being coupled to both said ground plane and a second point on said lineal antenna trace spaced from said feed point;

wherein said antenna is an active antenna further comprising a plurality of active components mounted on a second side of said printed circuit board, and wherein said first conductor is coupled to at least one of said active components.

2. The antenna according to claim 1 wherein said dielectric spacer is mounted to said ground plane.

3. The antenna according to claim 1 wherein said lineal antenna trace includes a middle region and first and second end regions.

4. The antenna according to claim 3 wherein said feed point is located at one of said first and second end regions and said second point is located at said middle region.

5. The antenna according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said active components is a low noise amplifier.

6. The antenna according to claim 1 wherein said dielectric spacer is plastic foam.

7. The antenna according to claim 1 wherein said lineal antenna trace is spaced apart by a predetermined distance from said ground plane less than one quarter wavelength of said RF signal.

8. The antenna according to claim 1 wherein said feed point and said second point of said lineal antenna trace are spaced apart by a predetermined distance.

9. The antenna according to claim 1 wherein said lineal antenna trace is formed in a serpentine configuration.

10. The antenna according to claim 1 wherein said lineal antenna trace includes a substantially planar portion.

11. The antenna according to claim I wherein said printed circuit board is a multi-layer printed circuit board and wherein said ground plane is mounted on a first layer of said circuit board, and a second layer of said circuit board is disposed between said ground plane and said dielectric spacer.

12. A low profile antenna for use in a vehicle remote communication system utilizing a predetermined RF signal, comprising:

a printed circuit board having a ground plane mounted on a first side thereof;

an intermediate support member mounted to said first side of said printed circuit board;

a lineal antenna trace mounted to said support member and spaced apart from said ground plane by a predetermined distance; and

a transmission line having first and second signal conductors, said first conductor being coupled to a feed point on said lineal antenna trace and said second conductor being coupled to both said ground plane and a second point on said lineal antenna trace spaced from said feed point;

wherein said feed point and said second point of said lineal antenna trace are spaced apart by a predetermined distance less than one quarter wavelength of said RF signal.

13. The antenna according to claim 12 wherein said lineal antenna trace is formed in a serpentine configuration.

14. The antenna according to claim 13 wherein said lineal antenna trace includes a substantially planar portion.

15. The antenna according to claim 13 wherein said printed circuit board is a multi-layer printed circuit board and wherein said ground plane is mounted on a first layer of said circuit board, and a second layer of said circuit board is disposed between said ground plane and said dielectric spacer.

16. The antenna according to claim 13 wherein said lineal antenna trace includes a middle region and first and second end regions.

17. The antenna according to claim 16 wherein said feed point is located at one of said first and second end regions and said second point is located at said middle region.

18. A low profile antenna for use in a vehicle remote communication system utilizing a predetermined RF signal, comprising:

a mounting substrate providing a ground plane;

an intermediate support member mounted to said mounting substrate;

a lineal antenna trace mounted to said support member and spaced apart from said ground plane by a predetermined distance, said lineal antenna trace including a middle region and first and second end regions; and

a transmission line having first and second signal conductors, said first conductor being coupled to a feed point on said lineal antenna trace and said second conductor being coupled to both said ground plane and a second point on said lineal antenna trace spaced from said feed point,

wherein said feed point is located at one of said first and second end regions and said second point is located at said middle region, and

wherein said feed point and said second point are spaced apart by a predetermined distance less than one quarter wavelength of said RF signal.