Radio antenna arrangement with a patch antenna

• US 6,140,969 A
• Filed: 09/03/1999
• Issued: 10/31/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Delphi Delco Electronics Europe GmbH (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Fuba Automotive GmbH & Co. KG.
• Inventors: Reiner, Leopold, Hopf, Jochen, Lindenmeier, Heinz, Kronberger, Rainer
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HOANGANH T
• Application Number:
  US09/389,997
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 343/713, 343/729, 343/700 MS, 343/711, 343/712, 343/725, 343/715, 343/825, 343/826, 343/829, 343/846, 343/848
• US Class Current: 343/700.0MS
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1271 for mounting on windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3275 mounted on a horizontal surface of the vehicle, e.g. on roof, hood, trunk
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system

Abstract

A multiband radio antenna arrangement for use in two way radio communication for (UHF) and (SHF) frequencies. The antenna arrangement contains at least one emitter antenna mounted on the outside of the motor vehicle adjacent to an upper edge of the vehicle'"'"'s windshield near its roof. Supporting the emitter antenna is a base plate secured adjacent to the roof of the vehicle, the baseplate being electrically conductive and serving as the electrical ground plane for the emitter antenna. A thin antenna line feeds into the antenna and extends from a connection point on the baseplate to the upper edge of the windshield where it is bent and then extended on the inside surface of the windshield through an adhesive bead of the window and into the interior of the vehicle. In addition, connected to the baseplate is a patch antenna connected to the antenna line, the patch antenna for receiving an additional radio communication service. The emitter antenna connects to the antenna line on the baseplate at an emitter connection point. The patch antenna connects to the antenna line on the baseplate at a patch antenna connection point. The combination of the emitter antenna, the antenna line, and a patch antenna are linked to a base plate, to form a combination antenna for multiple band radio communications.

Claims

1. A radio antenna having a three layer micro-strip antenna line comprising:

a) at least two ground planes (24), said ground planes being spaced apart and defining the outer two layers of the micro-strip antenna;

b) a plurality of electrical through contacts (19) for spacing apart said at least two ground planes and electrically connecting said ground planes (24) together; and

c) at least one signal transmitting conductor disposed between said ground planes (24), and designed as a composite in the form of a thin multiple surface strip line (20).

2. The radio antenna according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting conductor further comprises an additional antenna conductor disposed between said two outer ground planes (24) and comprising a coplanar line with a substantially wide signal-transmitting conductor (21) and a wide ground conductor (23) disposed on each side of said conductor (21) for transmitting high signal power outputs.

3. The radio antenna according to claim 2 wherein the two outer layers of said ground planes (24) are omitted within the range of said coplanar line with the wide transmitting conductor (21), and define narrow conductor bridges (22) having a spacing smaller than the frequency wavelength, wherein the spacings and the width of the conductor bridges are designed to satisfy the line impedance requirement for the respective signal frequency.

4. A multiband radio antenna for use in two way radio communication for receiving (UHF) and (SHF) frequencies in a motor vehicle comprising:

at least one emitter antenna mounted on the outside of the motor vehicle adjacent to an upper edge of its windshield adjacent to its roof;

a base plate secured adjacent to the roof of the vehicle, said emitter antenna being mounted on said base plate and projecting therefrom, said baseplate being electrically conductive and serving as the electrical ground plane for said emitter antenna;

a thin antenna line extending from a connection point on said base plate to an upper edge of the windshield where it is bent and then extended on an inside surface of the windshield through an adhesive bead of the window and into the interior of the vehicle, wherein said antenna line comprises a three-layer microstrip with two ground planes, said ground planes being spaced apart and connected to each other by through-contacts, and a thin, signal transmitting conductor disposed between said ground planes, and designed as a composite in the form of a multiple surface strip line;

a patch antenna connected to said antenna line for receiving an additional radio communication service, said patch antenna being mounted on said base plate;

an emitter connection point formed by the emitter antenna connection to said baseplate and the antenna line; and

a patch antenna connection point formed by said patch antenna connecting to the base plate and the antenna line wherein said emitter antenna, said antenna line, and said patch antenna are attached to said base plate to form a combination antenna for multiple band radio communications.