Abstract: An antenna assembly for a vehicle including an environmentally sealed housing and a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board is at least partially disposed within the environmentally sealed housing and extends through a plurality of second order Hilbert Curves which are arranged in side-by-side relationship with one another. The antenna assembly is preferably disposed within a non-metallic structure of the vehicle, and therefore, the antenna assembly is hidden from view, thereby allowing the vehicle to have a more aesthetically pleasing external appearance. Additionally, the length of the trace is limited by the space inside of the non-metallic structure, and therefore, depending on the size of the non-metallic structure, a very long trace having a high performance could be printed on the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A vehicle component having a housing made of non-metallic material and having at least one surface made of metallic material is provided, and an antenna assembly is disposed in the vehicle component. The antenna assembly includes a high-gain film-type antenna element having an input for receiving a wireless signal, an output, and a ground portion is disposed on said non-metallic portion of the housing of said vehicle component. The antenna assembly also includes a low noise amplifier (LNA) and a feeding structure including a coaxial cable and a ground wire. The coaxial cable establishes electrical communication between the antenna element and the LNA, and the ground wire establishes an electrical connection between the ground portion of the antenna element and the metallic surface of the vehicle component.

Abstract: An antenna assembly for a vehicle including an environmentally sealed housing and a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board is at least partially disposed within the environmentally sealed housing and extends through a plurality of second order Hilbert Curves which are arranged in side-by-side relationship with one another. The antenna assembly is preferably disposed within a non-metallic structure of the vehicle, and therefore, the antenna assembly is hidden from view, thereby allowing the vehicle to have a more aesthetically pleasing external appearance. Additionally, the length of the trace is limited by the space inside of the non-metallic structure, and therefore, depending on the size of the non-metallic structure, a very long trace having a high performance could be printed on the printed circuit board.

Abstract: The present invention may be embodied as a method of fabricating a composite article comprising the following steps. Primary panels are provided. Secondary panels are provided. Tertiary panels are provided. At least one flat primary panel is bent. The plurality of primary panels is arranged such that the primary panels conform to the shape of the composite article. An inner skin is formed by joining the adjacent edge portions of adjacent primary panels. A core is formed. Second surfaces of at least some of the primary panels are joined to first surfaces of at least some of the secondary panels. An outer skin is formed. Second surfaces of at least some of the secondary panels are joined to first surfaces of at least some of the tertiary panels. Material is applied to the tertiary panels to finish the outer skin of the composite article.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a composite article comprising the following steps. A plurality of support templates is provided. The support templates are arranged to define a shape of the composite article. A plurality of primary panels are provided, where each primary panel defines at least one edge, a first surface, and a second surface. The first surface of the plurality of primary panels is secured to the plurality of templates such that at least one edge of one of each the primary panels is adjacent to at least one edge of another of the primary panels and the primary panels conform to the shape of the composite article. The adjacent edge portions of adjacent primary panels are joined.

Abstract: A multiband antenna with GPS digital output comprising a housing, a GPS antenna provided in the housing, an AM/FM antenna provided on the housing, at least a GPS receiver provided in the housing and coupled to the GPS antenna and a serial network bus provided in the housing and coupled to the GPS receiver whereby AM/FM signals and GPS digital output is provided from the multiband antenna.

Abstract: A method of fabricating laminate articles. A plurality of support templates are arranged to define a part outline corresponding to the laminate article. An outer surface of a primary panel to is secured to the plurality of templates. A secondary panel is arranged in a desired relationship with the primary panel. A vacuum bag is secured to the primary panel to define a vacuum chamber. A vacuum is applied to the vacuum chamber to remove air from between the at least one primary panel and the at least one secondary panel. Optionally, at least one locater peg may be secured to the primary panel and at least one locater hole may be formed in the secondary panel. In this case, the secondary panel is displaced relative to the primary panel such that the at least one locater peg enters the at least one locater hole.

Abstract: A method of fabricating laminate articles. A plurality of support templates are arranged to define a part outline corresponding to the laminate article. An outer surface of a primary panel to is secured to the plurality of templates. A secondary panel is arranged in a desired relationship with the primary panel. A vacuum bag is secured to the primary panel to define a vacuum chamber. A vacuum is applied to the vacuum chamber to remove air from between the at least one primary panel and the at least one secondary panel. Optionally, at least one locater peg may be secured to the primary panel and at least one locater hole may be formed in the secondary panel. In this case, the secondary panel is displaced relative to the primary panel such that the at least one locater peg enters the at least one locater hole.