Modular antenna assembly for automotive vehicles
First Claim
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1. An antenna for installation to a vehicle body wall, the antenna comprising:
- a base assembly mountable to the vehicle body wall, the base assembly including a chassis, a base cover coupled to the chassis, at least one antenna element disposed within an interior collectively defined by the chassis and the base cover, and at least one socket defined by the base cover;
a radome assembly snap-fittable onto the base assembly, the radome assembly including a radome having a lower peripheral edge, at least one antenna element within the radome, and a connector piece attached to the radome, the connector piece having at least one connector extending downwardly therefrom to be received within the at least one socket of the base cover to thereby allow the radome assembly to snap-fit onto the base assembly;
whereby, in the final installed position of the antenna to the vehicle body wall, the lower peripheral edge of the radome closely conforms to the vehicle body wall to thereby achieve a zero gap appearance.
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Abstract
The specification discloses a modular antenna for automotive vehicles. The antenna includes a base assembly that can be used on a variety of vehicle platforms and a radome assembly that is specific to a particular vehicle platform. The radome assembly snap-fits onto the base assembly, and can be installed during or after vehicle assembly. A wide variety of radome assemblies of different shapes, styles, and colors can be used in conjunction with a single base assembly.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. An antenna for installation to a vehicle body wall, the antenna comprising:
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a base assembly mountable to the vehicle body wall, the base assembly including a chassis, a base cover coupled to the chassis, at least one antenna element disposed within an interior collectively defined by the chassis and the base cover, and at least one socket defined by the base cover; a radome assembly snap-fittable onto the base assembly, the radome assembly including a radome having a lower peripheral edge, at least one antenna element within the radome, and a connector piece attached to the radome, the connector piece having at least one connector extending downwardly therefrom to be received within the at least one socket of the base cover to thereby allow the radome assembly to snap-fit onto the base assembly; whereby, in the final installed position of the antenna to the vehicle body wall, the lower peripheral edge of the radome closely conforms to the vehicle body wall to thereby achieve a zero gap appearance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification