Apparatus for mounting a satellite antenna in a vehicle

• US 7,847,744 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2006
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mierzwa, Kevin G., Casavant, Scott D.
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, TRINH VO
• Application Number:
  US11/595,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20070171137A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,488 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 343/713
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/288 Satellite antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3275 mounted on a horizontal surface of the vehicle, e.g. on roof, hood, trunk
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3291 mounted in or on other locations inside the vehicle or vehicle body

Abstract

A vehicle 16 includes a vehicle body 30. A satellite antenna 18 is mounted within the vehicle body 30. A satellite transmissive panel 40 is coupled to the vehicle body 30 adjacent to the antenna 18. The satellite antenna may be mounted within the passenger compartment 20 or within the trunk 90 of the vehicle 16.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body comprising a first roof bow and a second roof bow;

a satellite antenna mounted within the vehicle body and coupled to the first bow and the second roof bow;

a panel for transmitting a satellite signal therethrough forming an exterior surface of the vehicle body adjacent to the antenna; and

a housing coupled to the first roof bow and the second roof bow of the vehicle body, said antenna coupled within the housing.

2. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 further comprising sound insulation disposed on the housing.

3. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein the vehicle body comprises a roof skin and the panel is flush with the roof skin.

4. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein the vehicle body comprises a deck lid and the transmissive panel is flush with the deck lid.

5. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein the vehicle body comprises a roof skin and wherein the panel forms the roof skin.

6. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 further comprising sound insulation disposed on the housing.

7. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 further comprising a headliner, said antenna disposed between the headliner and the roof skin.

8. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein the satellite antenna is disposed within a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

9. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 further comprising a satellite receiver coupled to the antenna and a display coupled to the satellite receiver.

10. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein the satellite receiver is coupled to the body.

11. A vehicle having a passenger compartment comprising:

a vehicle body comprising a roof having a roof skin, a first roof bow and a second roof bow;

a headliner disposed within the passenger compartment;

a satellite antenna coupled to the first roof bow and the second roof bow between the headliner and the roof skin;

a panel for transmitting a satellite signal therethrough for forming an exterior surface of the vehicle body adjacent to the antenna; and

a housing coupled to the first roof bow and the second roof bow of the vehicle body, said antenna coupled within the housing.

12. A vehicle as recited in claim 11 further comprising sound insulation disposed on the housing.

13. A vehicle as recited in claim 11 wherein the vehicle body comprises a roof skin and the panel is flush with the roof skin.

14. A vehicle as recited in claim 11 wherein the vehicle body comprises a roof skin and wherein the panel forms the roof skin.

15. A vehicle as recited in claim 11 further comprising sound insulation disposed on the housing.

16. A vehicle as recited in claim 11 further comprising a satellite receiver coupled to the antenna and a display coupled to the satellite receiver.

17. A vehicle as recited in claim 11 wherein the satellite receiver is coupled to the body.