Abstract: A window assembly for a vehicle having an essentially chlorine-free modified polyolefin primer disposed onto a transparent pane and a two-shot encapsulant applied onto the primer is provided. The two-shot encapsulant includes a first encapsulation layer disposed on the primer and a second encapsulation layer disposed on the first encapsulation layer. The first encapsulation layer has a Shore D hardness of at least 39 and a Flexural modulus of at least 100 MPa, while the second encapsulation layer has a Shore A hardness of less than 90.

Abstract: An antenna system and method utilize a splitter electrically connectable to a single antenna for splitting an RF signal into two signals. A variable phase shifter shifts the phase of one of the signals. A combiner combines the phase shifted and non-phase shifted signals to produce a conditioned signal. A quality examiner circuit changes the amount of phase shift provided by the variable phase shifter to produce a plurality of different conditioned signals. The quality examiner circuit then determines a quality of each conditioned signal and changes the phase shift again to provide the highest quality conditioned signal to a receiver.

Abstract: A window assembly is used in a vehicle. The window assembly comprises a transparent pane having an inner surface and an outer surface spaced from the inner surface. The window assembly also comprises a ceramic frit disposed on a portion of the transparent pane. A primer is disposed on at least one of the transparent pane and the ceramic frit for providing a bonding surface. An encapsulation is coupled to the primer.

Abstract: An antenna system for receiving an RF signal from a first antenna and a second antenna includes a phase shift circuit. The phase shift circuit shifts a phase of the RF signal from the second antenna by one of a plurality of possible phase shifts to produce a phase shifted signal. A combiner combines the RF signal from the first antenna and the phase shifted signal to produce a combined signal. A comparator circuit compares a signal quality of the combined signal with a minimum threshold value to determine if the signal quality of the combined signal is equal to or greater than the threshold value. The comparator circuit is in communicative control of the phase shift circuit and maintains the phase shift of the RF signal received by the second antenna in response to the signal quality of the combined signal being equal to or greater than the threshold value.

Abstract: An antenna system (10) for receiving satellite signals in a vehicle exhibits a radiation pattern (11). The antenna system (10) includes a plurality of parasitic elements (18) which are electrically connectable together using linking switches (20). The geometry of the radiation pattern (11) changes as the linking switches (20) are activated and deactivated. Control of the linking switches (20), and thus the geometry of the radiation pattern (11), is based on the geographic location of the antenna system (10). Thus, the radiation pattern (10) can be steered based on geographic location to enhance signal reception. The geographic location may be obtained automatically via a GPS receiver (30) or manually via a user.

Abstract: An antenna system includes a circularly polarized (CP) antenna for receiving and/or transmitting a circularly polarized RF signal. The CP antenna includes a pair of radiating patches each having an elongated shape. An elongated axis is defined along a longest length of each of the radiating patches. The elongated axes are disposed generally perpendicular to one another to generate the circular polarization. A coplanar waveguide feeding element is disposed between the radiating patches for feeding RF signals from and/or to the radiating patches via electromagnetic coupling. A width of the slot of the coplanar waveguide is varied to provide impedance matching of the CP antenna with a transmission line.

Abstract: An antenna for radiating an electromagnetic field having both linear and circular polarization includes a ground plane and a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer is disposed on the ground plane and has at least one exposed surface that radiates the electromagnetic field. A first feeding element is disposed on the exposed surface for electrically exciting the dielectric layer to provide the linear polarization at a first frequency having a first effective wavelength. A second feeding element is disposed on the exposed surface for electrically exciting the dielectric layer to provide the circular polarization at a second frequency having a second effective wavelength. The feeding elements are separated by a distance greater than ? wavelength of the largest of the effective wavelengths.

Abstract: An antenna for radiating an electromagnetic field includes a ground plane, a feeding probe, and a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer is disposed on the ground plane and has a radiating surface. The feeding probe electrically is embedded in the dielectric layer, and the feeding probe excites the dielectric layer such that the electromagnetic field radiates from the radiating surface and achieves circular polarization radiation.

Abstract: A patch antenna includes a first patch element and a second patch element. Each patch element defines a center. The second patch element is spaced below the first patch element. A connection point is defined on the second patch element for connection to a transmission line. A first plane is defined through the connection point and the center of the second patch element and generally perpendicular to the second patch element. The first patch element is disposed offset the second patch element such that the center of the first patch element does not intersect with the first plane.

Abstract: An antenna for radiating an electromagnetic field having both linear and circular polarization includes a ground plane and a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer is disposed on the ground plane and has at least one exposed surface that radiates the electromagnetic field. A first feeding element is disposed on the exposed surface for electrically exciting the dielectric layer to provide the linear polarization at a first frequency having a first effective wavelength. A second feeding element is disposed on the exposed surface for electrically exciting the dielectric layer to provide the circular polarization at a second frequency having a second effective wavelength. The feeding elements are separated by a distance greater than ? wavelength of the largest of the effective wavelengths.

Abstract: An antenna includes a non-conductive pane, a ground plane disposed on the non-conductive pane, and a radiating strip disposed on the non-conductive pane for operating in a plurality of frequency bands. The radiating strip defines a plurality of loops. A portion of a periphery of one of the loops coincides with at least a portion of a periphery of another of the loops. The radiating strip also includes at least one branch extending away from the periphery of one of the loops to allow tuning and shifting of the resonant frequencies of the antenna.

Abstract: A multi-band antenna includes a non-conductive pane, a ground plane disposed on the non-conductive pane, and a radiating strip for operating in a plurality of frequency bands. The radiating strip includes an elongated portion and a meander line portion extending away from an end of the elongated portion. The radiating strip also includes a pair of tuning stubs extending from the elongated portion.

Abstract: A method for determining an amount of moisture on a surface of a substrate includes a step of transmitting a transmitter signal to generate a wave. The transmitter signal has a first phase. The wave is propagated to vibrate the surface. Vibrations in the surface are detected and converted into a receiver signal. The receiver signal has a second phase different than the first phase. The method includes the step of sensing the temperature of the substrate. The amount of moisture on the surface is computed based on a phase shift between the transmitter signal and the receiver signal that has been compensated to account for surface temperature.

Abstract: A window pane having a window sash attached thereto to reduce noise transmitted through the window pane. The window sash comprising a bracket and tuned mass damper attached to the bracket at one or more spaced intervals. The one or more spaced intervals are adjusted to tune the window sash to a targeted frequency to reduce the noise transmitted through the window pane. The targeted frequency may be the coincidence frequency of the window pane. The stiffness and/or mass of the bracket and tuned mass damper can also be chosen to reduce the noise transmitted through the window pane.

Abstract: A patch antenna includes a first patch element and a second patch element. Each patch element defines a center. The second patch element is spaced below the first patch element. A connection point is defined on the second patch element for connection to a transmission line. A first plane is defined through the connection point and the center of the second patch element and generally perpendicular to the second patch element. The first patch element is disposed offset the second patch element such that the center of the first patch element does not intersect with the first plane.

Abstract: An antenna is integrated with a window of a vehicle primarily for operating in multiple cellular telephone frequency bands. The antenna includes a conductive area formed of conductive material defining a slot. The slot is dimensioned such that edges adjacent the slot radiate primarily in a first frequency band. The antenna also includes a conductive strip formed of conductive material extending from the conductive area. The conductive strip is dimensioned to radiate primarily in a second frequency band.

Abstract: An antenna for radiating an electromagnetic field includes a ground plane, a first dielectric layer disposed on the ground plane, and a second dielectric layer disposed on the first dielectric layer. The antenna includes at least one feeding element embedded in the first dielectric layer and a radiating element extending from the feeding element. The radiating element is embedded within the first dielectric layer adjacent to the second dielectric layer. A beam steering element is embedded in the second dielectric layer and electromagnetically coupled to the radiating element. Embedding the beam steering element in the second dielectric layer and electromagnetically coupling the beam steering element to the radiating element allows the antenna to tilt a radiation beam to overcome a roof obstruction from a vehicle while maintaining acceptable gain, polarization, and directional properties for SDARS applications.

Abstract: A patch antenna receives circularly polarized RF signals from a satellite. The antenna includes a radiating element. A plurality of feed lines feed the radiating element at a plurality of feed points. The feed points are spaced apart to generate a circularly polarized radiation beam solely in a higher order mode at a desired frequency. The antenna may include a plurality of parasitic structures. The feed point spacing and/or the parasitic structures tilt the radiating beam away from an axis perpendicular to the radiating element. Thus, the patch antenna provides excellent RF signal reception from satellites at low elevation angles.

Abstract: An antenna for receiving and/or transmitting radio frequency (RF) signals at multiple cellular frequency bands is disposed on a non-conductive pane. The antenna includes a first antenna element and a second antenna element. The first antenna element has a first radiating element and a second radiating element arranged together in an opposing relationship to form a first bowtie shape. The second antenna element is spaced from the first antenna element and has a third radiating element and a fourth radiating element arranged together in an opposing relationship to form a second bowtie shape with a different dimension than the first bowtie shape. A first trace element connects to and extends between said first and third radiating elements and a second trace element connects to and extends between said second and fourth radiating elements. The antenna establishes an electromagnetic coupling for dual band operation at the multiple cellular frequency bands.

Abstract: A signal measurement system tests an RF component in an RF test facility, such as an RF anechoic chamber. The system includes a repeater which is connected to an exterior antenna disposed outside the chamber and a transmitting antenna disposed inside the chamber. The repeater receives the RF broadcast signal from the exterior antenna and rebroadcasts it as an RF testing signal inside the chamber. The subject antenna receives the RF testing signal, which is then analyzed with a computer. The repeater may also modify the RF testing signal to produce a wide variety of test situations that mimic those available in a traditional field-test.