Directional antenna having a selected beam pattern

• US 7,327,322 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2005
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Capps, Charles P., Kohler, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HOANGANH T
• Application Number:
  US11/158,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20070008234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 343/721, 343/711, 343/713, 343/712, 398/115
• US Class Current: 343/713
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3291 mounted in or on other locations inside the vehicle or vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/44 using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna , e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspectH01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence

Abstract

A directional antenna is provided that utilizes an existing light source or simple reflector having a beam directing reflective surface and a transparent cover for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic radio waves. In an aspect, an information signal is impressed across a conductive material formed to a transparent cover and the reflective surface directs electromagnetic radio waves in a predetermined direction. Beam pattern, gain, polarization and wavelength can be selected through the design and positioning of the conductive material from the reflective surface for providing an effective resonant antenna. The radiated information signal may be used to detect an object or communicate with a receiver. The light source or reflector can be attached to a fixed structure or to a mobile vehicle. In the case of a mobile vehicle, the antenna is fully concealed. In an aspect, material costs, manufacturing costs and assembly costs are reduced as compared to presently available antennas.

Claims

1. A directional antenna system comprising:

an alternating current (AC) source;

a plurality of light beam reflective surfaces positioned to reflect through associated transparent materials, wherein the AC source provides AC via a transmission link to at least one of a plurality of conductive elements, wherein first and second light beam reflective surfaces of the plurality of light beam reflective surfaces are spaced apart from one another, and the conductive element associated with the reflective surface is formed to the associated transparent material, for creating an electromagnetic field about the conductive element and radiating electromagnetic radio waves, and wherein the first and second light beam reflective surfaces direct a portion of the electromagnetic radio waves in predetermined directions; and

a processor that selectively provides AC from the AC source to the conductive element of each reflective surface, such that a phased array pattern of the electromagnetic field is formed.

2. The directional antenna system as in claim 1, wherein the conductive element comprises at least one of copper, silver, gold, aluminum, and indium tin oxide.

3. The directional antenna system as in claim 1, wherein the conductive element is formed in a predetermined length and shape including substantially T-shaped, a shape that alternates back and forth, straight, spiral, and rectangular, and wherein the conductive element is formed in a predetermined length.

4. The directional antenna system as in claim 1, wherein the transparent material having the conductive element is positioned a predetermined distance relative to the reflective material.

5. The directional antenna system as in claim 1, wherein the transparent material and the reflective surface are attached to one of a fixed structure and a mobile vehicle, wherein the fixed structure includes one of a building, fence and pole, and the mobile vehicle includes one of a car, truck, train, bicycle, airplane, and seagoing vessel.

6. The directional antenna system as in claim 1, further comprising a light filament enclosed by the transparent material and the reflective surface, wherein the conductive element and the light filament are incorporated into a vehicle light, wherein the vehicle light is one of a headlight, fog light and brake light.

7. The directional antenna system as in claim 1, wherein the AC source generates an RF signal having a bandwidth at a frequency in the range of 1 megahertz (MHz) to 100 gigahertz (GHz) for broadcasting to a receiver and for detecting objects.

8. The directional antenna system as in claim 7, wherein the RF signal has a bandwidth at a frequency in the range of 80 megahertz (MHz) to 600 megahertz (MHz).

9. The directional antenna system as in claim 1, further comprising a receiver, wherein the reflective surface receives radio frequency signals and transmits the radio frequency signals to the receiver.

10. The directional antenna system as in claim 1, further comprising an oscillator, the processor for instructing the AC source to generate a predetermined information signal and feed the information signal to a modulator, and for instructing the oscillator to generate a wave at a carrier frequency and feed the carrier frequency to the modulator, wherein the modulator superimposes the information signal onto the carrier frequency for transmission to the conductive element via the transmission link, wherein the information signal and carrier frequency are impressed across the conductive element.

11. A short range communication system comprising:

a plurality of light beam reflective surfaces positioned to reflect through associated transparent materials, wherein first and second light beam reflective surfaces of said plurality of light beam reflective surfaces are spaced apart from one another; and

a plurality of conductive elements, wherein the conductive element associated with the reflective surface is formed to the associated transparent material, the conductive element for one of transmitting and receiving signals; and

a processor that selectively provides alternating current (AC) from an AC source to the conductive element via a transmission link of each reflective surface, wherein;

when transmitting the alternating current, the AC source provides AC for creating an electromagnetic field about the conductive element and radiating electromagnetic radio waves, wherein the first and second light beam reflective surfaces direct a portion of the electromagnetic radio waves in predetermined directions, such that a phase array pattern of the electromagnetic field is formed; and

when receiving, the conductive element directly receives the signals, and the reflective surface receives the signals and transmits the signals to the conductive element.

12. The short range communication system as in claim 11, wherein:

the conductive element comprises at least one of copper, silver, gold, aluminum, and indium tin oxide;

the conductive element is formed in a predetermined length and shape including substantially T-shaped, a shape that alternates back and forth, straight, spiral, and rectangular, and the conductive element is formed in a predetermined length; and

the transparent material having the conductive element is positioned a predetermined distance relative to the reflective material.

13. The short range communication system as in claim 11, wherein the AC source generates an RF signal having a bandwidth at a frequency in the range of 1 megahertz (MHz) to 100 gigahertz (GHz).

14. The short range communication system as in claim 13, wherein the RF signal has a bandwidth at a frequency in the range of 80 megahertz (MHz) to 600 megahertz (MHz).

15. The short range communication system as in claim 11, further comprising a light filament enclosed by the transparent material and the reflective surface, wherein the conductive element and the light filament are incorporated into a vehicle light, wherein the vehicle light is one of a headlight, fog light and brake light.

16. A method of forming a light source into a directional antenna comprising:

establishing an alternating current (AC) source;

utilizing a plurality of light beam reflective surfaces positioned to reflect through associated transparent materials, wherein first and second light beam reflective surfaces of the plurality of light beam reflective surfaces are spaced apart from one another; and

providing AC selectively, from the AC source to a plurality of conductive elements via a transmission link, wherein the AC is selectively provided to the conductive element associated with the reflective surface; and

utilizing the AC source, wherein the conductive element is formed to the associated transparent material, for creating an electromagnetic field about the conductive element and radiating electromagnetic radio waves, wherein the first and second light beam reflective surfaces direct a portion of the electromagnetic radio waves in a predetermined directions, such that a phased array pattern of the electromagnetic field is formed.

17. The method as in claim 16, wherein the conductive element comprises at least one of copper, silver, gold, aluminum, and indium tin oxide.

18. The method as in claim 16, further comprising:

forming the conductive element in a predetermined length and shape including substantially T-shaped, a shape that alternates back and forth, straight, spiral, and rectangular; and

forming the conductive element in a predetermined length.

19. The method as in claim 16, further comprising positioning the transparent material having the conductive element a predetermined distance relative to the reflective material.

20. The method as in claim 16, further comprising attaching the transparent material and the reflective surface to one of a fixed structure and a mobile vehicle, wherein the fixed structure includes one of a building, fence and pole, and the mobile vehicle includes one of a car, truck, train, bicycle, airplane, and seagoing vessel.

21. The method as in claim 16, further comprising employing a light filament enclosed by the transparent material and the reflective surface, wherein the conductive element and the light filament are incorporated into a vehicle light, and wherein the vehicle light is one of a headlight, fog light and brake light.

22. The method as in claim 16, further comprising generating an RF signal, utilizing the AC source, having a bandwidth at a frequency in the range of 1 megahertz (MHz) to 100 gigahertz (GHz), for broadcasting to a receiver and for detecting objects.

23. The method as in claim 22, wherein the RF signal has a bandwidth at a frequency in the range of 80 megahertz (MHz) to 600 megahertz (MHz).

24. The method as in claim 16, further comprising employing a receiver, wherein the reflective surface receives radio frequency signals and transmits the radio frequency signals to the receiver.

25. The method as in claim 16, further comprising an oscillator, the processor to instruct the AC source to generate a predetermined information signal and feed the information signal to a modulator, and to instruct the oscillator to generate a wave at a carrier frequency and feed the carrier frequency to the modulator, wherein the modulator superimposes the information signal onto the carrier frequency for transmission to the conductive element via the transmission link, wherein the information signal and carrier frequency are impressed across the conductive element.