Apparatus for mounting a satellite antenna in a trunk of a vehicle

• US 8,593,356 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2010
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• 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:
  US12/913,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20110037669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,126 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 343/711
• 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 includes a vehicle body having a trunk. The vehicle body has a deck lid covering the trunk. A satellite antenna is mounted within the trunk and is coupled to the deck lid. The deck lid includes a panel for transmitting a satellite signal therethrough and forms an entire exterior surface of the deck lid.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body having a trunk, said vehicle body comprising a deck lid covering the trunk of the vehicle;

a satellite antenna mounted within the trunk and coupled to the deck lid; and

said deck lid comprising a panel for transmitting a satellite signal therethrough forming an entire exterior surface of the deck lid.

2. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 further comprising a housing mounted to the deck lid.

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

4. A vehicle as recited in claim 2 wherein the antenna is mounted between the housing and the panel.

5. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 further comprising a housing mounted to support structure associated with the deck lid.

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

7. A vehicle as recited in claim 6 wherein the satellite receiver is coupled to the vehicle body.

8. A vehicle as recited in claim 6 wherein the satellite receiver is coupled within a passenger compartment of the vehicle body.

9. A vehicle as recited in claim 6 wherein the display is coupled within a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

10. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein the satellite antenna comprises an omni-directional antenna.

11. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein the satellite antenna comprises a rotating-type antenna.

12. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein the satellite antenna comprises a phased-array antenna.