Configurable antenna element

• US 8,896,496 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2011
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Kittinger, Gregg R., Hibbard, Donald B. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan
• Application Number:
  US13/281,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20130106658A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,126 Days
• Field of Search: 343/711, 343/713, 343/873
• US Class Current: 343/873
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/32 Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/40 Radiating elements coated with or embedded in protective material

Abstract

A configurable antenna element comprises a conductor encased in a foam substrate with a pressure sensitive adhesive applied to a surface of the foam substrate for application of the configurable antenna to a surface.

Claims

1. A configurable antenna element comprising:

a conductor having an encased portion that is encased in a foam substrate; and

a pressure sensitive adhesive applied to a surface of the foam substrate for application of the configurable antenna to a surface;

the conductor having an end portion that extends from the foam substrate for attachment to an electrical device.

2. The configurable antenna of claim 1, wherein the conductor is constructed of a standard metal/wire antenna element.

3. The configurable antenna of claim 1, wherein the foam substrate is of the type of material that is a Buzz, Squeak and Rattle (“

BSR”

) material which is used to dampen noise is a vehicle.

4. The configurable antenna of claim 3, wherein the BSR material includes cellular foam or EPDM.

5. The configurable antenna of claim 1, wherein a removable liner is applied to and protects the pressure sensitive adhesive until the configurable antenna element is ready for installation.

6. A vehicle body panel having a configurable antenna disposed therein comprising:

a conductor having an encased portion that is encased in a foam substrate; and

a pressure sensitive adhesive applied to a surface of the foam substrate for application of the configurable antenna to the vehicle body panel;

the conductor having an end portion that extends from the foam substrate for attachment to an electrical device.

7. The vehicle body panel of claim 6, wherein the conductor is constructed of a standard metal/wire antenna element.

8. The vehicle body panel of claim 6, wherein the foam substrate is of the type of material that is a Buzz, Squeak and Rattle (“

BSR”

) material which is used to dampen noise is a vehicle.

9. The vehicle body panel of claim 8, wherein the BSR material includes cellular foam or EPDM.

10. The vehicle body panel of claim 6, wherein a removable liner is applied to and protects the pressure sensitive adhesive until the configurable antenna element is ready for installation.

11. The vehicle body panel of claim 6, wherein molded guides or channels are integrally located in an underbody surface thereof for application of the configurable antenna thereto.

12. The vehicle body panel of claim 6, wherein the end portion of the conductor is utilized as a transition to a Coax cable or a connector for attachment to an audio amplifier.