LTE MIMO-CAPABLE MULTI-FUNCTIONAL VEHICLE ANTENNA

• US 20140043204A1
• Filed: 08/09/2012
• Published: 02/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Basnayake, Chaminda, Hay, Curtis L., Yasan, Eray
• Granted Patent: US 9,083,414 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/872
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3275 mounted on a horizontal surface of the vehicle, e.g. on roof, hood, trunk
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/24 Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction circularly polarised patch antennas H01Q9/0428; circularly polarised horns H01Q13/0241; cross-polarised horns H01Q13/0258; polarisation converters H01Q15/242; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; crossed polarisation dual antenna H01Q25/001
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0413 MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0825 with main and with auxiliary or diversity antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/10 Polarisation diversity; Directional diversity

Abstract

A multifunctional vehicle antenna assembly that includes a primary multiple input and multiple output (MIMO) antenna component; a secondary MIMO antenna component; and a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) antenna component, wherein the GNSS antenna component is located between the primary MIMO antenna component and the secondary MIMO antenna component and is located nearer to the secondary MIMO antenna component.

Claims

1. A multifunctional vehicle antenna assembly, comprising:

a primary multiple input and multiple output (MIMO) antenna component;

a secondary MIMO antenna component; and

a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) antenna component, wherein the GNSS antenna component is located between the primary MIMO antenna component and the secondary MIMO antenna component and is located nearer to the secondary MIMO antenna component.

2. The multifunctional vehicle antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the primary MIMO antenna component and the secondary MIMO antenna component are located no more than 180 millimeters (mm) from each other.

3. The multifunctional vehicle antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the primary MIMO antenna component or the secondary MIMO antenna component uses shape diversity or pattern diversity.

4. The multifunctional vehicle antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the primary MIMO antenna component and the secondary MIMO antenna component further comprise a horizontally-polarized antenna and a vertically-polarized antenna.

5. The multifunctional vehicle antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the primary MIMO antenna component both transmits and receives signals whereas the secondary MIMO antenna only receives signals.

6. The multifunctional vehicle antenna assembly of claim 1, further comprising a satellite radio antenna component located between the primary MIMO antenna component and the secondary MIMO antenna component.

7. The multifunctional vehicle antenna assembly of claim 6, further comprising a terrestrial radio antenna component.

8. The multifunctional vehicle antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the secondary MIMO antenna component and the GNSS antenna component are communicatively linked to a single communication cable via a switch that enables data received via the secondary MIMO antenna component and the GNSS antenna component to be sent within a vehicle using the single communication cable.

9. The multifunctional vehicle antenna assembly of claim 1, further comprising an antenna enclosure within which the primary MIMO antenna component, the secondary MIMO antenna component, and the GNSS antenna component are fixed, wherein the antenna enclosure measures less than or equal to 180 millimeters (mm) in length, less than or equal to 80 mm in width, and less than or equal to 75 mm in height.

10. A multifunctional vehicle antenna assembly, comprising:

a primary multiple input and multiple output (MIMO) antenna component; and

a secondary MIMO antenna component, wherein the primary MIMO antenna component and the secondary MIMO antenna component are located less than or equal to 180 millimeters (mm) from each other.

11. The multifunctional vehicle antenna assembly of claim 10, wherein the primary MIMO antenna component or the secondary MIMO antenna component uses shape diversity or pattern diversity.

12. The multifunctional vehicle antenna assembly of claim 10, wherein the primary MIMO antenna component and the secondary MIMO antenna component further comprise a horizontally-polarized antenna and a vertically-polarized antenna.

13. The multifunctional vehicle antenna assembly of claim 10, further comprising a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) antenna component, wherein the GNSS antenna component is located between the primary MIMO antenna component and the secondary MIMO antenna component

14. The multifunctional vehicle antenna assembly of claim 10, wherein the primary MIMO antenna component both transmits and receives signals whereas the secondary MIMO antenna only receives signals.

15. The multifunctional vehicle antenna assembly of claim 11, further comprising a satellite radio antenna component located between the primary MIMO antenna component and the secondary MIMO antenna component.

16. The multifunctional vehicle antenna assembly of claim 15, further comprising a terrestrial radio antenna component.

17. The multifunctional vehicle antenna assembly of claim 11, wherein the secondary MIMO antenna component and the GNSS antenna component are communicatively linked to a single communication cable via a switch that enables data received via the secondary MIMO antenna component and the GNSS antenna component to be sent within a vehicle using the single communication cable.

18. The multifunctional vehicle antenna assembly of claim 11, further comprising an antenna enclosure within which the primary MIMO antenna component, the secondary MIMO antenna component, and the GNSS antenna component are fixed, wherein the antenna enclosure measures less than or equal to 180 millimeters (mm) in length, less than or equal to 80 mm in width, and less than or equal to 75 mm in height.