Abstract: A through-glass antenna system (10) includes a patch antenna (14) mounted on a horizontal flat surface (51) of a three-dimensional conductive structure (16). The structure can serve as a ground plane for the patch antenna and further include bent and folded sides (52, 54, and 56) where one side includes a conductive surface (52) that extends below the horizontal flat surface and if necessary further bends at an approximate angle of a vehicle's front or rear window (30), a substantially planar external coupler (26) having an inside portion (63) and an edge portion (67) where the patch antenna is connected to the inside portion (63) of the external coupler, a substantially planar internal coupler (32) having an inside portion (7)3 and an edge portion (77), and a low noise amplifier (36) where the low noise amplifier is connected to the edge portion of the internal coupler.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for deciphering recorded digital audio signals and using a smart card to pay for deciphering. Encrypted digital audio signals are recorded onto a recording medium, such as a compact disc or the like. When the user desires to listen to the recording, the encrypted recording is inserted into a player/recorder and a prepaid smart card is inserted into a smart card reader connected to the player/recorder. The smart card reader deducts a predetermined value from the card before allowing the player/recorder to decipher the encrypted recording, and record the deciphered audio onto a recording medium for playback.

Abstract: A low profile antenna for use in a vehicle remote communication system in accordance with the present invention includes a printed circuit board having a copper ground plane mounted on a first side thereof. A dielectric spacer is mounted to the first side of the printed circuit board. A lineal antenna trace is disposed on the dielectric spacer. The antenna also includes a transmission line having first and second signal conductors. The first conductor is coupled to a feed point on the lineal antenna trace and the second conductor is coupled to both the ground plane and a second point on the lineal antenna trace spaced from the feed point.

Abstract: A headphone antenna assembly capable of efficiently receiving both satellite and terrestrial radio frequency signals in the Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS) frequency band. Two embodiments are presented, one utilizing a patch antenna and the other utilizing a quadrifilar antenna.

Abstract: A system and method for confirming that two antennae are connected to a radio receiver. There is provided a radio receiver including a signal generating source, a first antenna feed connection port, a second antenna feed connection port, and a signal detection circuit. Also provided is a low noise amplifier (LNA) module having a first LNA and a second LNA, wherein the first LNA is in communication with a first antenna and the second LNA is in communication with a second antenna, and wherein outputs of the first and second LNAs are in communication, respectively, with the first antenna feed connection port and the second antenna feed connection port. A DC signal pathway is established, at least in part, through the LNA module and electrically connects the signal generating source and the signal detection circuit to each other, whereby when the signal is detected it can be confirmed that both antennae are connected to the radio receiver.

Abstract: A wideband patch antenna is presented that comprises a patch which may be of pure metallic form or may be etched on a dielectric, that may be rectangular, elliptical, triangular, or any other geometric shape. The patch is disposed a distance above a ground plane and is driven by a helix-shaped or meandering probe disposed between the patch and the ground plane. The probe is normal to the ground plane. In addition, a plurality of such patch antennas may be combined to form antenna arrays or dual-band antenna structures.

Abstract: A low profile antenna for use in a vehicle remote communication system in accordance with the present invention includes a printed circuit board having a copper ground plane mounted on a first side thereof. A dielectric spacer is mounted to the first side of the printed circuit board. A lineal antenna trace is disposed on the dielectric spacer. The antenna also includes a transmission line having first and second signal conductors. The first conductor is coupled to a feed point on the lineal antenna trace and the second conductor is coupled to both the ground plane and a second point on the lineal antenna trace spaced from the feed point.

Abstract: A quadrifilar helix antenna comprises a flexible substrate, four conductive elements with a feed network etched on a first portion of the flexible substrate, parasitic metallic lines etched on a second portion of the flexible substrate and a ground plane for the feed network. The resulting antenna structure is capable of efficiently receiving both satellite and terrestrial SDARS (Satellite digital audio radio service) signals.

Abstract: A combined antenna system used for both vehicles and structures, whereby a satellite antenna is placed concentrically around a conventional mast antenna that can be used for both conventional FM radio and also terrestrial retransmission of the satellite broadcast signals. The combined antenna system, in a vehicle implementation, is configured to use only the one hole created in the vehicle manufacturing process, thereby preventing the necessity of drilling a second hole for the satellite antenna, which alleviates deterioration of the vehicle's body. Additionally, because the combined antenna system can be advantageously placed, a shorter RF cable connecting it to a receiver box can be implemented than otherwise would be the case for a satellite antenna located on a window or roof of a vehicle.

Abstract: A combined antenna system used for both vehicles and structures, whereby a satellite antenna is placed concentrically around a conventional mast antenna that can be used for both conventional FM radio and also terrestrial retransmission of the satellite broadcast signals. The combined antenna system, in a vehicle implementation, is configured to use only the one hole created in the vehicle manufacturing process, thereby preventing the necessity of drilling a second hole for the satellite antenna, which alleviates deterioration of the vehicle's body. Additionally, because the combined antenna system can be advantageously placed, a shorter RF cable connecting it to a receiver box can be implemented than otherwise would be the case for a satellite antenna located on a window or roof of a vehicle.

Abstract: An antenna system is provided which employs RF and DC coupling across a dielectric. RF coupling is achieved using low cost and low loss RF coupler pairs such as quarterwave patches that are mounted opposite each other on either side of a dielectric. The feeds of the patches are aligned so as to be directly opposite each other, and the patches are mounted against the dielectric. A voltage booster circuit can be provided to increase input supply voltage for DC coupling that is adjustable to accommodate the thickness of the dielectric.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) coupler for passing RF energy through a dielectric such as glass, includes first and second circuit boards, each board having disposed thereon an electrical conducting material, the first and second circuit boards being arranged opposite each other on opposing sides of the dielectric, the first circuit board having a first ground element that defines a first aperture, and a first exciter strip disposed within the first aperture, the second circuit board having a second ground element that defines a second aperture, and a second exciter strip disposed within the second aperture, wherein one of the first and second exciter strips is longer than the other.

Abstract: A combination linearly polarized antenna and quadrifilar helix antenna (30) comprises a flexible substrate (50), a quadrifilar antenna (33) with a feed network (34) etched on a first portion of the flexible substrate, an antenna with linear polarization (35) etched on a second portion of the flexible substrate and a ground plane (36) for both the quadrifilar antenna and the antenna with linear polarization etched on the flexible substrate.

Abstract: A vehicle antenna mounting system whereby the antenna, associated antenna electronics (e.g., LNA) and RF and DC coupling are provided in an integral antenna assembly for installation on the exterior of a vehicle. The integral antenna assembly comprises a base section enclosing the associated antenna electronics and RF and DC coupling devices, and an antenna section pivotably mounted on the base section comprising the antenna. Two or more antennas are provided in the integral antenna assembly for SDARS reception on at least one satellite channel and a terrestrial channel. Another satellite channel can be provided for diversity purposes, or a global positioning system (GPS) satellite receiver for performing location services, among others, for the vehicle.

Abstract: A drooping quadrifilar helix antenna includes first, second, third, and fourth radiating elements (42, 44, 46, and 48 respectively) of conductive material, each element extending in a first direction in a first plane and at least one of the radiating elements having a portion (47) thereof drooping in a second direction in a second plane, the antenna further including a dielectric tube (45) for maintaining a substantial portion of the radiating elements in a substantially helical or spiral shape, a coupler (24) for coupling electrical energy to and/or from each of said radiating elements, and a feed network (22) for individually feeding at least two of the radiating elements.

Abstract: A combination linearly polarized antenna and quadrifilar helix antenna (40) includes a quadrifilar antenna (49) having a first coaxial cable (46) and an antenna with linear polarization (44) external to the quadrifilar antenna and having a second coaxial cable (42). A center conductor of the second coaxial cable is isolated from a center conductor of the first coaxial cable and the first coaxial cable runs substantially concentrically through the antenna with linear polarization.

Abstract: A combination linearly polarized antenna and quadrifilar helix antenna (40) includes a quadrifilar antenna (49) having a first coaxial cable (46) and an antenna with linear polarization (44) external to the quadrifilar antenna and having a second coaxial cable (42). A center conductor of the second coaxial cable is isolated from a center conductor of the first coaxial cable and the first coaxial cable runs substantially concentrically through the antenna with linear polarization.

Abstract: An antenna system is provided which employs RF and DC coupling across a dielectric. RF coupling is achieved using low cost and low loss RF coupler pairs such as quarterwave patches that are mounted opposite each other on either side of a dielectric. The feeds of the patches are aligned so as to be directly opposite each other, and the patches are mounted against the dielectric. A voltage booster circuit can be provided to increase input supply voltage for DC coupling that is adjustable to accommodate the thickness of the dielectric.

Abstract: A vehicle antenna mounting system whereby the antenna, associated antenna electronics (e.g., LNA) and RF and DC coupling are provided in an integral antenna assembly for installation on the exterior of a vehicle. The integral antenna assembly comprises a base section enclosing the associated antenna electronics and RF and DC coupling devices, and an antenna section pivotably mounted on the base section comprising the antenna. Two or more antennas are provided in the integral antenna assembly for SDARS reception on at least one satellite channel and a terrestrial channel. Another satellite channel can be provided for diversity purposes, or a global positioning system (GPS) satellite receiver for performing location services, among others, for the vehicle.