Method for verifying a completeness of an antenna

• US 8,362,783 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2009
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AGC Automotive Americas Co. (AGC, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AGC Automotive Americas Co. (AGC, Inc.)
• Inventors: Baker, Tracy M., Salm, Kevin J., Richardson, Terry A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BENITEZ ROSARIO, JOSHUA
• Application Number:
  US12/548,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20100052718A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: 324503-505
• US Class Current: 324/505
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/006 on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks testing of ignition installations peculiar to internal combustion engines F02P17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/52 Testing for short-circuits, leakage current or ground faults
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/54 Testing for continuity

Abstract

A method verifies a completeness of an antenna disposed on a window. The antenna is electrically conductive and has a first end and a second end spaced from each other. The method comprises the step of placing the window on a fixture for supporting the window. The method also includes the steps of automatically aligning a distributing probe and the first end of the antenna and automatically aligning a receiving probe and the second end of the antenna. The method further includes the step of activating a current source to pass an electrical current from the distributing probe to the receiving probe through the antenna. The method also includes the step of indicating passage of the electrical current from the antenna to the receiving probe with the indicator to verify a completeness of the antenna.

Claims

1. A method of verifying a completeness of an antenna disposed on a window using an antenna verification system, wherein the antenna is electrically conductive and has a first end and a second end spaced from each other, the antenna verification system comprising a fixture having a support surface for supporting the window and having a hollow interior opposite the support surface, a current source for generating an electrical current, at least one distributing probe disposed within the hollow interior of the fixture and in electrical communication with the current source, at least one receiving probe disposed within the hollow interior of the fixture, and an indicator in electrical communication with the receiving probe for indicating passage of the electrical current from the antenna to the receiving probe, said method comprising the steps of:

placing the window on the fixture;

automatically aligning the distributing probe and the first end of the antenna;

automatically aligning the receiving probe and the second end of the antenna;

extending the distributing probe from the hollow interior of the fixture into contact with the first end of the antenna to electrically communicate with the first end of the antenna;

extending the receiving probe from the hollow interior of the fixture into contact with the second end of the antenna to electrically communicate with the second end of the antenna;

activating the current source such that the electrical current passes from the distributing probe to the antenna; and

indicating passage of the electrical current from the antenna to the receiving probe with the indicator to verify a completeness of the antenna.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the distributing and receiving probes are automatically aligned by moving the window relative to the fixture.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the antenna verification system further comprises at least one adjustment mechanism disposed adjacent the fixture which manipulates the window to move the window relative to the fixture and automatically aligning the distributing and receiving probes.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the antenna verification system further comprises a central processing unit in communication with the adjustment mechanism and said method further comprises the step of controlling the adjustment mechanism with the central processing unit.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the antenna verification system further comprises at least one transporting mechanism disposed adjacent the fixture and the step of placing the window on the fixture is further defined as activating the transporting mechanism to automatically place the window on the fixture.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of placing the window on the fixture is performed simultaneously with the steps of automatically aligning the distributing and receiving probes.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the probes moveable between a non-contact position where the probes are within said hollow interior of said fixture and spaced from the antenna and a contact position where the probes extend from said fixture and contact the antenna.

8. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein the antenna verification system further comprises at least one actuator coupled to the probes and the step of extending the probes from the non-contact position to the contact position is further defined as activating the actuator to extend the probes from the non-contact position to the contact position.

9. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of sorting the window based on the completeness of the antenna.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the antenna verification system further comprises at least one transporting mechanism disposed adjacent the fixture and the step of sorting the window based on the completeness of the antenna is further defined as automatically sorting window with the transporting mechanism based on the completeness of the antenna.

11. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the antenna verification system further comprises a central processing unit and at least one sensor in communication with the central processing unit for sensing a presence of the window on the fixture and said method further comprises the step of activating the current source with the central processing unit upon sensing the presence of the window such that the electrical current passes from the distributing probe to the antenna.

12. An antenna verification system for verifying a completeness of an antenna disposed on a window, wherein the antenna is electrically conductive and has a first end and a second end spaced from each other, said system comprising:

a fixture having a contact surface for supporting the window and having a hollow interior opposite said contact surface;

a current source for generating an electrical current;

at least one distributing probe disposed within said hollow interior of said fixture and extendable from said fixture for contacting the first end of the antenna with said distributing probe in electrical communication with said current source for electrically communicating with the first end of the antenna to pass electrical current to the first end of the antenna;

at least one receiving probe disposed within said hollow interior of said fixture and extendable from said fixture for contacting the second end of the antenna to electrically communicate with the second end of the antenna to receive the electrical current which is passed through the antenna;

an indicator in electrical communication with said receiving probe for indicating passage of electrical current from the antenna to said receiving probe to verify the completeness of the antenna; and

at least one adjustment mechanism disposed adjacent said fixture for aligning said distributing probe and the first end of the antenna and for aligning said receiving probe and the second end of the antenna.

13. An antenna verification system as set forth in claim 12 wherein said probes are moveable between a non-contact position where said probes are within said hollow interior of said fixture and spaced from the antenna and a contact position where said probes extend from said fixture and contact the antenna.

14. An antenna verification system as set forth in claim 13 further comprising at least one actuator coupled to said distributing and receiving probes for moving said distributing and receiving probes between said non-contact position and said contact position.

15. An antenna verification system as set forth in claim 12 further comprising a central processing unit in communication with said indicator for verifying the completeness of the antenna based on passage of electrical current from the antenna to said receiving probe.

16. An antenna verification system as set forth in claim 15 further comprising at least one sensor in communication with said central processing unit for sensing a presence of the window on said fixture.

17. An antenna verification system as set forth in claim 16 wherein said central processing unit is also in communication with said current source for activating said current source to generate electrical current.

18. An antenna verification system as set forth in claim 15 further comprising at least one transporting mechanism in communication with said central processing unit for automatically sorting the window based on the completeness of the antenna.

19. An antenna verification system as set forth in claim 15 wherein said indicator is selected from a multimeter and a light source which emits light upon passage of electrical current from the antenna to said receiving probe.

20. An antenna verification system for verifying a completeness of an antenna disposed on a window, wherein the antenna is electrically conductive and has a first end and a second end spaced from each other, said system comprising:

a fixture having a contact surface for supporting the window and a hollow interior opposite said contact surface;

a current source for generating an electrical current;

a central processing unit in communication with said current source for activating said current source to generate the electrical current;

at least one distributing probe disposed within said hollow interior of said fixture and extendable from said fixture for contacting the first end of the antenna with said distributing probe in electrical communication with said current source for electrically communicating with the first end of the antenna to pass electrical current to the first end of the antenna;

at least one receiving probe disposed within said hollow interior of said fixture and extendable from said fixture for contacting the second end of the antenna to electrically communicate with the second end of the antenna to receive electrical current which is passed through the antenna;

said probes being moveable between a non-contact position where said probes are within said hollow interior of said fixture and spaced from the antenna and a contact position where said probes extend from said fixture and contact the antenna;

at least one sensor in communication with said central processing unit for communicating the presence of the window to said central processing unit;

at least one adjustment mechanism disposed adjacent said fixture for automatically aligning said distributing probe and the first end of the antenna and for automatically aligning said receiving probe and the second end of the antenna, said adjustment mechanism in communication with said central processing unit for controlling said adjustment mechanism based on the presence of the window communicated by said sensor;

an indicator in electrical communication with said receiving probe for indicating passage of electrical current from the antenna to said receiving probe, with said indicator in communication with said central processing unit for verifying the completeness of the antenna based on passage of electrical current from the antenna to said receiving probes.

21. An antenna verification system as set forth in claim 20 further comprising at least one actuator coupled to said probes for moving said probes between said non-contact position and said contact position, said actuator in communication with said central processing unit for activating the actuator to move said probes between said non-contact position and said contact position.

22. An antenna verification system as set forth in claim 20 further comprising at least one transporting mechanism in communication with said central processing unit for sorting the window based on the completeness of the antenna.

23. An antenna verification system as set forth in claim 20 wherein said indicator is selected from a multimeter and a light source which emits a light upon passage of the electrical current from the antenna to said receiving probe.

24. A method of verifying a completeness of an antenna disposed on a window using an antenna verification system, wherein the antenna is electrically conductive and has a first end and a second end spaced from each other, the antenna verification system comprising a fixture having a support surface for supporting the window and defining a hollow interior, a current source for generating an electrical current, a central processing unit in communication with the current source, at least one distributing probe disposed within the hollow interior of the fixture and in electrical communication with the current source, at least one receiving probe disposed within the hollow interior of the fixture, at least one actuator in communication with the central processing unit and coupled to the probes for moving the probes between a non-contact position where the probes are within said hollow interior of said fixture and spaced from the antenna and a contact position where the probes extend from said fixture and contact the antenna, at least one sensor in communication with the central processing unit, at least one adjustment mechanism in communication with the central processing unit, an indicator in electrical communication with the receiving probe for indicating passage of the electrical current from the antenna to the receiving probe and in communication with the central processing unit, said method comprising the steps of:

placing the window on the fixture;

sensing the presence of the window on the fixture with the sensor;

communicating the presence of the window on the fixture from the sensor to the central processing unit;

activating the adjustment mechanism with the central processing unit to automatically align the distributing probe and the first end of the antenna;

activating the adjustment mechanism with the central processing unit to automatically align the receiving probe and the second end of the antenna;

activating the actuator with the central processing unit to extend the probes from the non-contact position within the hollow interior of the fixture to the contact position such that the probes contact the ends of the antenna to electrically communicate with the ends of the antenna;

activating the current source with the central processing unit such that the electrical current passes from the distributing probe to the receiving probe through the antenna;

indicating passage of the electrical current from the antenna to the receiving probe with the indicator;

communicating passage of the electrical current to the central processing unit;

verifying the completeness of the antenna with the central processing unit;

retracting the probes from the contact position to the non-contact position;

removing the window from the fixture; and

sorting the window based on the completeness of the antenna.

25. A method as set forth in claim 24 wherein the antenna verification system further comprises at least one transporting mechanism and the step of placing the widow on the fixture is further defined as automatically placing the window on the fixture with the transporting mechanism.

26. A method as set forth in claim 24 wherein the step of placing the window on the fixture is performed simultaneously with the step of automatically aligning the distributing and receiving probes.