With Vehicle Patents (Class 343/711)
  • Patent number: 7436367
    Abstract: An antenna for mounting on a motor-vehicle part formed with a throughgoing hole of nonround shape has a base plate engageable with the part over the hole and carrying antenna components and a stem projecting through the hole. A bayonet plate has an outer edge of nonround shape capable of passing axially through the hole of the part and not able to pass through the hole of the part in another angularly offset position. This bayonet plate can move angularly on the base plate between an install position and a holding position and is urged by a spring toward the base plate and against the part. Spacers engageable in the install position hold the bayonet plate at a predetermined large axial spacing from the base plate and disengage from each other in the holding position to allow the bayonet plate to be pressed by the spring against the motor-vehicle part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Hirschmann Car Communication GmbH
    Inventor: Günther Blickle
  • Patent number: 7427961
    Abstract: A method for improving the efficiency of antennas having transparent thin-film conductive surfaces, and antennas improved by the method are disclosed. For a selected frequency of antenna operation, values for surface current density in areas distributed over the surface of the thin-film are determined. Regions of the surface containing areas having concentrated current flow are identified based upon the determined values of current density. Antenna efficiency is improved by increasing conductivity in areas of the thin-film surface found to have concentrated current flow. The method enables the improvement of the efficiency of antennas having transparent thin-film conducting surfaces, without unnecessarily obstructing the optical view through the thin-film surfaces of the antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, inc.
    Inventors: Hyok J. Song, Tsung Yuan Hsu, Daniel F. Sievenpiper, Timothy J. Talty, Hui-Pin Hsu
  • Patent number: 7425925
    Abstract: A vehicle security system includes a bumper assembly, an antenna and a controller. The bumper assembly includes an energy absorbing portion and a cover portion overlying the energy absorbing portion. The antenna is supported by the energy absorbing portion and covered by the cover portion of the bumper assembly. The controller is electrically connected to the antenna to process a signal within a prescribed proximity of the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Cheang, Nandkumar Rangnekar, Richard Eschebach
  • Publication number: 20080218416
    Abstract: Multifunctional structures and methods of manufacturing multifunctional structures which function as both electronic devices and load-bearing elements are disclosed. The load-bearing elements are designed to have electronic functionality using electronics designed to be load-bearing. The method of manufacturing the multifunctional structure comprises forming an electronic element directly on at least one ply of arbitrarily shaped load-bearing material using conventional lithographic techniques and/or direct write fabrication techniques, and assembling at least two plies of arbitrarily shaped load-bearing material into a multifunctional structure. The multifunctional structure may be part of an aerospace structure, part of a land vehicle, pan of a watercraft or part of a spacecraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: Erik S. Handy, Joseph M. Kunze
  • Patent number: 7422189
    Abstract: A device for securing a vehicle antenna to a vehicle body is described, to prevent the vehicle antenna from tilting out of the vehicle body in the mounting operation. The device includes projections which engage behind an orifice in the vehicle body for introducing the device on the side of the vehicle body facing away from the vehicle antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Militz, Christian Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7420517
    Abstract: A plurality of heating wires 2 have a plurality of detours 1 formed therein, the heating wires 2 have inlets 10 formed therein for connection with the detours 1, and both ends of each of the inlets 10 and both ends of each of the detours 1 are connected by a pair of connection lines 9. When a shorter one of the shortest spacing between the paired connection lines 9 and the shortest spacing between both ends of the inlets 10 is called We, when the maximum width of the detours 1 in a horizontal direction is called Wr, when a received frequency has a wavelength of ?0 in the air, and when the formula of {(Wr?We)/2}=L1 is established, the formula of L1?0.0053·?0 is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Oshima, Osamu Kagaya, Koji Ikawa, Toshifumi Funatsu
  • Publication number: 20080204332
    Abstract: An on-vehicle device has a receiving antenna for receiving a radio signal from a mobile device, a receiving circuit for returning an electric signal obtained by conversion by the receiving antenna to the original state, a control unit for determining the correct/incorrect of a received signal from the receiving circuit, a driving circuit that is driven in response to a driving signal from the control unit and supplies antenna current to a vehicle antenna, and a detector for detecting whether the vehicle antenna operates normally. A detection signal of the detector is fed back to the control unit through the receiving circuit, and the failure determination of the vehicle antenna is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masashi IKEURA
  • Patent number: 7403167
    Abstract: An antenna configuration is provided for radio reception in motor vehicles, the roof region of which is made predominantly of dielectric materials, and for motor vehicles having roof structures that can be collapsed for open driving operation. The antenna configuration includes a combination of emitters that are integrated into elements of the roof region, with emitters that are disposed in cavities of the interior paneling essentially below the belt line of the vehicle. A ground connection is provided for emitters that are disposed in a roof structure having movable elements by way of at least one resilient contact between movable metal components of the roof structure and the metal car body. Also included is a switching system for alternating operation of the emitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignees: Delphi Delco Electronics Europe GmbH, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
    Inventors: Wilhelm Probst, Jürgen Sczesny, Detlef Wunnenberg, Laila Bekraoui
  • Patent number: 7397436
    Abstract: A protector-equipped antenna unit has an antenna body including an antenna case, a cable derived from the antenna case to the outside, and a protector for protecting the antenna body and the cable. The protector has drain holes. The protector has a cable protecting portion having a hook portion for fixing the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Noro, Kenichi Kamada, Kyuichi Sato
  • Publication number: 20080158072
    Abstract: Antenna constructions for electronic devices and methods of manufacturing such antenna constructions. The electronic device comprises a transponder and an antenna electrically coupled with the transponder. The antenna has a core of a first material and a coating of a second material on the core. The second material has a higher electrical conductivity than the first material and/or a lower permeability than the first material. The coating on the core also has a predetermined thickness. The electronic devices may be used in tires.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Brian Matthew Logan, Robert Leon Benedict
  • Patent number: 7391374
    Abstract: A monopole antenna is formed of a ground plane, a flat conductor faced to the ground plane and separated from it by a clearance “H”, and a linear conductor that is connected to the flat conductor, extended on the ground plane side in an insulated state from the ground plane, and connected to a signal source. The flat conductor is formed of an inner conductor, and outer conductors disposed on the outer periphery of the inner conductor at a predetermined interval. Set regions of the outer edge of the inner conductor and the inner edges of the outer conductors are interconnected through one or more coupling conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Susumu Inatsugu, Takeshi Masutani, Kazuhiko Fujikawa, Masami Segawa
  • Patent number: 7388549
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of forming a multi-band antenna, especially the fractal antenna which allows a convenient reception of single for communication. The multi-band behavior is obtained by a set of geometry patterns of the same basic elements. The antenna is formed by preparing coating particles including particles, silica, and a solvent. Heating the metallic particles, the silica particles and the solvent at a temperature higher than about 100 degrees C. to from a coating solution. An additional passive layer can be added to protect the conducting layer of the antenna. Materials for this passive layer are made, for instance, of oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Inventor: Kuo Ching Chiang
  • Patent number: 7388548
    Abstract: An antenna glazing for automobiles, including an electrically conducting cladding extending surface-wise over the surface of the glazing up to a zone of the free edge of the cladding, serving as an antenna element, and a coupling electrode furnished with external connections, coupled in the capacitive regime to the electrically conducting cladding with interposition of an insulating layer. The coupling electrode is composed at least of one thin wire, which starts from the zone at the edge of the glazing, is conducted over the surface covered by the cladding, and is returned to the zone of the edge with at least one fold, so that the two ends of the wire are situated in the zone of the edge of the glazing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventor: Helmut Maeuser
  • Publication number: 20080136718
    Abstract: A mobile radar array system comprising a towable platform having a pair of wheels operably coupled thereto, the wheels adapted for rolling along a road surface; and an antenna array mounted on a side of at least one of the wheels, the antenna array, when energized, capable of providing a radiation pattern for detecting a moving object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventor: Byron W. Tietjen
  • Patent number: 7382239
    Abstract: An onboard wireless communication system for a vehicle, such as a tire pressure monitoring system (“TPMS”) is disclosed. The TPMS includes wheel-mounted radio frequency (“RF”) sensor/transmitters that transmit RF signals conveying tire pressure information, at least one RF relay element, and an RF receiver coupled to a TPMS processor. The RF relay element(s) relay the RF signals from the sensor/transmitters to the RF receiver to reduce the negative effect of electromagnetic field scattering caused by conductive parts of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Hyok J. Song, Hui-Pin Hsu, Richard W. Wiese
  • Publication number: 20080122707
    Abstract: A ground-contacting component of a vehicle, comprising at least two physical parameter measurement systems, each measurement system having a linearly polarized antenna. The polarization directions of the antennas make an angle of between 30 and 90° between them. Also disclosed are a tire and a vehicle ground contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Lionel Fagot-Revurat
  • Patent number: 7375692
    Abstract: The antenna FM2 comprises a serigraphed aerial on the rear opening window (2) of a station wagon and consists of a defrosting network (4) with two superposed symmetrical vertical lines (5). A thick ground line (8) is serigraphed onto the rear window (2) and a two-wire cable (11, 12) joins the aerial FM2 to an electronic housing (9). On a quarter panel window of the vehicle, the aerial is serigraphed in the form of an F-shape of the servitude antenna and joined by a two-wire cable (19, 20) to an electronic housing (9). The serigraphed antenna for a rear window and for a quarter panel window of a station wagon provides excellent reception in both FM and servitude mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Societe de Composants Electriques
    Inventors: Alessandro Mondadori, Didier Viratelle
  • Patent number: 7372421
    Abstract: An antenna device has a core made of a magnetic material, a coil formed by winding a conducting wire on a predetermined range including the core and the outer region of the core, and a sub-core that adjusts the resonance frequency by moving in the inner peripheral region of the coil and in the direction orthogonal to the winding direction of the coil. A communication system of the present invention is a combination of an external communication device, the antenna device, and an internal communication device that is connected to the antenna device and is disposed in a cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Ohara
  • Patent number: 7372416
    Abstract: A slidable assembly has a cylindrical section with an upper passageway and an axial slit. The slidable assembly also has a support section with an upper strip extending from the upper end of the cylindrical section and a lower strip extending from the lower end of the cylindrical section. A flag has upper and lower edges supported by the strips. A liftable assembly has a wing shaped component and a central passageway. A short projection extends upwardly press fit into the lower end of the cylindrical section of the slidable assembly. An intermediate cylindrical passageway is formed as a coupling between the lower and upper passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Inventors: Timothy R. Marchessault, Robin Lee Marchessault
  • Patent number: 7365694
    Abstract: In an antenna unit including an antenna and a bottom plate, a unit fixing member is disposed between the antenna and the bottom plate. The unit fixing member is adapted to provisionally fix the antenna unit onto a mobile object and to fix the antenna onto the bottom plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Inaba, Toshiaki Aizawa, Junichi Noro
  • Patent number: 7365693
    Abstract: An antenna device includes a grounding subject, a feeder insulated from the grounding subject, a first conductor shaping like substantially a looped triangle and coupled to the feeder at a first feeder top, and a second conductor symmetric to the first conductor with respect to a phantom line extending through the feeder and coupled to the feeder at a second feeder top. The first feeder top is placed closest to the grounding subject among other elements of the first conductor, and the second feeder top is placed closest to the grounding subject among other elements of the second conductor. The foregoing structure allows a high electrical field section of a first side of the first conductor and that of a first side of the second conductor to leave further away from the grounding subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Hoshiai, Susumu Fukushima, Yosuke Wada
  • Patent number: 7362278
    Abstract: A versatile GPS-equipped meter includes a GPS antenna and a GPS processing circuit in an existing meter unit. Posture adjusting members are provided that have different shapes according to an attachment angle ? of a GPS-equipped meter to a vehicle body frame are appropriately selected so as to point a GPS antenna to the sky regardless of the attachment angle ?. In a meter case, an antenna relief part is secured. Accordingly, even if a relative positional relationship between the meter case and the GPS antenna is changed due to a change in the shape of the posture adjusting member, the meter case and the GPS antenna never interfere with each other. Thus, the GPS-equipped meter can be shared with various vehicles without increasing the meter case in size. Therefore, the versatility is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Yusuke Funayose
  • Patent number: 7362259
    Abstract: For suppressing secondary lobes in pulsed radar systems, the antenna characteristics of the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna are designed so that the dominant secondary lobes appear mutually offset and their maximums and minimums are mutually suppressed. This increases the safety against detection of false targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Gottwald
  • Patent number: 7358904
    Abstract: A remote-control device, particularly a remote-control central lock for motor vehicles, comprising an electrical device which is preferably mounted in a housing and an antenna. The inventive remote-control device is further characterized by the following: the antenna is configured a) as a bendable antenna that is dimensionally stable in the bent shape, and/or b) as a stiff antenna, and/or c) as an antenna which is fixed to and maintained above a rigid and/or dimensionally stable base or housing; and the antenna is in a predefined position relative to the electrical device and/or the housing receiving or the base supporting said electrical device; and the electrical device and the antenna are embodied as a as a combined device in the form of an assembly operated as a single unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Kathrein-Werke KG
    Inventors: Peter Prassmayer, Gunther Mossmer, Mohamed Slimani
  • Patent number: 7345639
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic central buffer coupling for a multi-membered vehicle having a coupling head and a signal transmission device for transmitting signals between a first and a second car body. The invention integrates a signal transmission device into the central buffer coupling. The invention includes a coupling element and a counter-coupling element integrated into respective contact plates of adjacent coupling heads such that the face side of the coupling element is arranged opposite the face side of the counter-coupling element. The coupling element and the counter-coupling element each have an antenna member that includes a disc monopole antenna configured to transmit data in the GHz frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Voith Turbo Scharfenberg GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Prill, Reiner Krause, Karl-Heinz Kraft
  • Patent number: 7345640
    Abstract: An invisible antenna with excellent antenna characteristics that cannot be visually recognized by naked eyes. A pair of linear conductors 11 are connected to a feeding line 12, and a plurality of the linear conductors 11 are disposed on and/or within a transparent insulating layer 14. The linear conductor 11 cannot be visually recognized by human naked eyes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Cable, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Watari, Toshiyuki Ando, Toshiyuki Takano
  • Patent number: 7342547
    Abstract: Either one or both of the antenna pattern and a ground pattern, which reflects a radiated radio wave radiated from the antenna pattern, are buried inside the glass substrate. As a result, it is possible to provide high-gain, low-loss glass antennas in which glass is used as their substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignees: Fujitsu Limited, Fujitsu Frontech Limited, Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Maniwa, Andrey Andrenko, Shigekazu Kimura, Shigeru Hashimoto, Toshiaki Ibi, Akihide Sano
  • Patent number: 7339538
    Abstract: An antenna unit according to the present invention comprises an antenna case composed of a top cover and a bottom plate that are joined together. An antenna module is disposed in the top cover. A packing member is disposed at a joining portion between the top cover and the bottom plate to thereby ensure sealing of the antenna module. The packing member has a plurality of anti-slip projecting portions, while the bottom plate has a plurality of through holes receiving the plurality of projecting portions so as to pass therethrough. A diameter of the through hole is made greater than that of the projecting portion to thereby provide a clearance between the through hole and the projecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Yoneya, Yoshiaki Imano, Kazunari Saito
  • Patent number: 7339548
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of mountable and adjustable antenna apparatuses and methods are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, a mountable and adjustable antenna apparatus includes a top housing member, a bottom housing member, and an antenna assembly being disposed within the top housing member. The top housing member is in rotatable relation to the bottom housing member. The antenna assembly is in fixed relation to the top housing member. The top housing member has an aerodynamic configuration for reducing drag on, and for eliminating fatigue as well as flutter of, the antenna assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Antenex, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald M. Cislo
  • Patent number: 7336231
    Abstract: The vehicle roof antenna mounting assembly comprises a convex portion (120), a bolt (160) and a leg washer (140). The convex portion is inserted into a mounting hole (RH) of a vehicle roof panel (R) and has a edge portion (125) and a inner threaded hole (126). The bolt has a screw screwed to the threaded hole and is tightened to the convex portion. The leg washer has a plate washer ring (141), a leg portion (142) and a taper portion (144). The leg portion is extendedly provided from the washer ring toward the mounting hole. The taper portion is provided on the leg portion as opposed to the edge portion and abutted on the edge portion to expand the tip portion toward an outside of the mounting hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Harada Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Hayashi, Toshiro Yokoyama, Jinsong Wang
  • Patent number: 7327321
    Abstract: An electromagnetic radiation assembly is described and which includes a reflector having discrete first and second surfaces; a first electromagnetic radiation emitter positioned adjacent to the first surface; and a second electromagnetic radiation emitter positioned adjacent to the second surface, and wherein, when energized, the first and second electromagnetic radiation emitters emit visibly discernible electromagnetic radiation which is reflected by the reflector in a fashion so as to be visible at locations forward of the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: K.W. Muth Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Todd, Daniel J. Mathieu, Allen A. Bukosky
  • Patent number: 7327322
    Abstract: A directional antenna is provided that utilizes an existing light source or simple reflector having a beam directing reflective surface and a transparent cover for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic radio waves. In an aspect, an information signal is impressed across a conductive material formed to a transparent cover and the reflective surface directs electromagnetic radio waves in a predetermined direction. Beam pattern, gain, polarization and wavelength can be selected through the design and positioning of the conductive material from the reflective surface for providing an effective resonant antenna. The radiated information signal may be used to detect an object or communicate with a receiver. The light source or reflector can be attached to a fixed structure or to a mobile vehicle. In the case of a mobile vehicle, the antenna is fully concealed. In an aspect, material costs, manufacturing costs and assembly costs are reduced as compared to presently available antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles P. Capps, James L. Kohler
  • Patent number: 7327226
    Abstract: A vehicle communication and control system is provided that may be more readily installed in a vehicle and that utilizes minimal additional wiring. According to some of the disclosed embodiments, the electrical components of the “brick” of a communication and control system are integrated into a rearview mirror assembly. Preferably, the microwave antenna for the GPS and the cellular telephone antenna are also integrated into the rearview mirror assembly. Various functions and features of the system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Robert R. Turnbull, Robert C. Knapp, Eric J. Walstra, Alan R. Watson, G. Bruce Poe, John K. Roberts, Wayne J. Rumsey
  • Patent number: 7321338
    Abstract: An on-board antenna includes a radiation element provided on a dielectric substrate, a grounding conductor surrounding a periphery of an outer edge portion of the radiation element at a position spaced away outwardly from the outer edge portion, and a conductive member provided on the surface at a position spaced away outwardly from an outer edge portion of the grounding conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Komatsu, Hiroshi Kuribayashi, Tomoyuki Fukumaru, Hiroshi Iijima, Hideaki Oshima, Tatsuo Matsushita
  • Patent number: 7317423
    Abstract: An antenna device having an antenna to be mounted on the body side of a vehicle for receiving a radio signal from a tire condition detection device mounted on a tire side, or giving and receiving a radio signal between the tire condition detection device and a device mounted on the vehicle body side. The antenna device includes attachment means with which the antenna can be temporarily attached, moved and securely attached to the vehicle body side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Shimura
  • Patent number: 7310069
    Abstract: An antenna system for a tire pressure monitoring radio frequency (RF) electronic device that includes a printed circuit board (PCB), a ground plane, and an active element. The PCB has a top surface and a bottom surface. The ground plane is on the bottom surface. The active element is mounted on the top surface. The active element includes a first segment positioned in a top surface plane and connected to a second segment oriented at an angle to the top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Nantz, Qingfeng Tang, Ronald O. King, Riad Ghabra
  • Publication number: 20070279302
    Abstract: A panel-mounted vehicle antenna module includes exterior and interior components that are joined in a single operation to simultaneously achieve both mechanical fastening of the module and through-the-panel electrical connections of the antenna. The exterior and interior components are equipped with electrical connector terminals that are coupled when the exterior and interior components are joined, and alignment features that ensure accurate alignment of the connector terminals. The exterior component is temporarily retained against the panel, the interior component is temporarily attached to the exterior component, and a bolt is driven from the interior component into the exterior component to complete the mechanical attachment and electrical connections. Electrical cables hard-wired to the interior component are connected to the vehicle wiring harness to complete the installation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: Steven V. Byrne, Loren M. Thompson
  • Patent number: 7304614
    Abstract: A motor-vehicle roof antenna has a base plate adapted to be fitted to the vehicle roof, a sending/receiving unit mounted on the base plate, and a mounting formation for securing the base plate to the roof. The base plate is stamped sheet metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Hirschman Car Communication GmbH
    Inventor: David Silva
  • Patent number: 7298341
    Abstract: The invention provides a vehicle wheel arch (18) of the type including an antenna (20) for interacting with a device (22) carried by an assembly (12) of a wheel (14) and a tire (16). The wheel arch includes a shield (24) overlying the antenna (20) beside the radially-inner face of the wheel arch (18), said shield (24) being suitable for retaining matter (26) at a certain distance from the antenna (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignees: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A., TRW Automotive US, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew R. Brown, Xavier Huchard, David L. Juzswik, Xing Ping Lin, Mathieu Tupinier
  • Patent number: 7292137
    Abstract: A passive entry system for a vehicle is provided that includes a vehicle-based communication module mounted in the vehicle and a portable communication device. The vehicle-based communication module includes a transmitter for transmitting a challenge signal to the portable communication device when in a polling state to determine a presence of the portable communication device for allowing access to the vehicle. The portable communication device includes a receiver for receiving the challenge signal and is responsive to the challenge signal when in a response state and non-responsive to the challenge signal when in a non-response state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Carl L. Gilbert, Riad Ghabra, Shubha Channappa
  • Patent number: 7289073
    Abstract: A method for improving the efficiency of antennas having transparent thin-film conductive surfaces, and antennas improved by the method are disclosed. For a selected frequency of antenna operation, values for surface current density in areas distributed over the surface of the thin-film are determined. Regions of the surface containing areas having concentrated current flow are identified based upon the determined values of current density. Antenna efficiency is improved by increasing conductivity in areas of the thin-film surface found to have concentrated current flow. The method enables the improvement of the efficiency of antennas having transparent thin-film conducting surfaces, without unnecessarily obstructing the optical view through the thin-film surfaces of the antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Hyok J. Song, Tsung Yuan Hsu, Daniel F. Sievenpiper, Timothy J. Talty, Hui-Pin Hsu
  • Patent number: 7289081
    Abstract: In an antenna coil device 100, a coil portion 12 having a lead wire 2 wound around a magnetic core 1 is mounted on a case 3 made of plastic resin, and on one side of the case 3, terminal boards 4 and 5 that electrically connect one end and the other end of the lead wire 2 of the coil portion 12 to an external device are placed in a protruding manner. A latch recess 4D is formed in an inserting end portion 4C of the terminal board 4 to form a tip portion into split shape sites 4E and 4F. A tapered portion 7 is formed on the outside of the split shape sites 4E and 4F, and an end portion of the tapered portion 7 joins an engagement portion 8 that is formed in a protruding manner in the lateral direction of the inserting end portion 4C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Sumida Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoko Mito, Masaki Saito
  • Publication number: 20070247379
    Abstract: A plurality of heating wires 2 have a plurality of detours 1 formed therein, the heating wires 2 have inlets 10 formed therein for connection with the detours 1, and both ends of each of the inlets 10 and both ends of each of the detours 1 are connected by a pair of connection lines 9. When a shorter one of the shortest spacing between the paired connection lines 9 and the shortest spacing between both ends of the inlets 10 is called We, when the maximum width of the detours 1 in a horizontal direction is called Wr, when a received frequency has a wavelength of ?0 in the air, and when the formula of {(Wr?We)/2}=L1 is established, the formula of L1?0.0053·?0 is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: ASAHI GLASS COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Oshima, Osamu Kagaya, Koji Ikawa, Toshifumi Funatsu
  • Publication number: 20070241973
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a multiband antenna for vehicles. The multiband antenna includes a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), at least one radiation unit, and a feeding unit. The PCB is formed within a radome that protects the antenna. The at least one radiation unit is formed on the PCB to be optimized as a Hilbert type meander line composed of a single pattern, and is configured to generate multiband resonant frequencies. The feeding unit is configured to apply signals to the radiation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Applicant: Motonix Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-Kwan Cho, Young-Sup Bang, Jin-Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 7280079
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an adaptor device for a car radio capable of improving the receiving state. The adaptor device 20 for a car radio is connected to a vehicle-mounted antenna connection terminal 12 provided in an FM radio receiver 10 installed within a vehicle room, and includes a signal line inserted between the vehicle-mounted antenna connection terminal 12 and a vehicle-mounted antenna 110; and an in-vehicle antenna 22 branching out from the signal line. A radio wave transmitted from an FM transmitter 40 disposed within the vehicle room via an antenna 42 is received by the radio receiver 10 via the in-vehicle antenna 22.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Neuro Solution Corp.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Miyagi
  • Patent number: 7271773
    Abstract: In an antenna adapted to be mounted on a vehicle body, a base member supports a base end of the antenna element. A screw member is extended from the base member and adapted to be inserted into a though hole formed in the vehicle body. A wall member is extended from the base member to define a housing space. A circuit board is disposed in the housing space. A casing covers the housing space such that an inner face thereof comes in contact with an outer face of the wall member. A waterproofing member is disposed between the base member and the vehicle body so as to surround an entire periphery of the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Yokowo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Gorai, Sadao Ohno
  • Publication number: 20070210979
    Abstract: An exterior vehicle component includes a proximity member disposed along an outer perimeter of an electromagnetic wave transmission member provided at a center of the component which is disposed in front of a radar device. The proximity member includes a chromium-plated portion formed on its front surface which reflects an electromagnetic wave. The proximity member is formed of an acrylate-styrene-acrylonitrile resin or a modified polyphenylene oxide resin having an attenuation coefficient for electromagnetic wave transmission, which is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Inventor: Masahito Shingyoji
  • Patent number: 7268734
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of mountable antenna apparatuses and methods are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, a mountable antenna apparatus generally includes a housing member, a bayonet adapter, and an antenna assembly disposed within the housing member. The housing member may include an aerodynamic configuration for reducing drag on and for eliminating or reducing fatigue as well as flutter of the antenna assembly. The aerodynamic configuration may include a feature such as an ogive, an ogivoid, a semi-ogivoid, a hemi-ogivoid, and a quasi-ogivoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Antenex, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald M. Cislo
  • Patent number: 7265725
    Abstract: A cutout portion through which one end side of a U-shaped portion of the antenna passes is cut deeper than a preset passing position where the U-shaped portion passes through the cutout portion. Further, an open dimension of a through hole through which the other end side of the U-shaped portion passes is substantially twice an outer diameter dimension of the U-shaped portion. When the U-shaped portion is passed through the through hole at the preset passing position, the U-shaped portion passes through the substantial center of the through hole. When error arises in the retention position of the antenna and the fixing position of the base plate, the U-shaped portion is displaced inside the cutout portion and the through hole, and the above error is absorbed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nana Nakajima, Hiroaki Kojima
  • Patent number: 7253778
    Abstract: An antenna is incorporated into the cowl grille of a motor vehicle adjacent the front windshield. The antenna comprises a receiver module or component and wire or cable which extends along the cowl grille generally parallel to the front windshield. The wire or cable can extend outside the cowl grille, and terminates in a connector which can be fed to the passenger compartment of the vehicle for connection to a radio, or the wire or cable can terminate as a molded-in connector as part of the cowl plastic allowing for direct connection from the vehicles wiring harness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: ADAC Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Bingle, Joseph Meinke